Taking an Uber around Los Angeles feels almost automatic now. People use it to get to concerts, games, the beach, and nights out with friends. Summer only adds more trips, more late nights, and more riders who are trusting a stranger to get them home safely.
When that ride turns sexual or frightening, the shock can be overwhelming. In the rideshare context, sexual assault or sexual abuse can include things like:
The big legal question is not only what the driver did, but also what the company did or failed to do. Uber has a duty to reasonably screen, monitor, and remove unsafe drivers. When it fails to do that, there can be a negligent hiring, supervision, or retention claim, and an experienced Uber sexual assault lawyer can help a survivor explore that option.
When a company profits from providing transportation, it does not get to pretend it has no responsibility. Even if drivers are labeled as independent contractors, the company is still creating the system that connects riders with those drivers, collects payment, and sets the rules.
The law uses the idea of a “duty of care.” In simple terms, if you create a service that puts people in a car with strangers, you have to take reasonable steps to keep them as safe as you can. In California, that can include:
California law allows claims against companies that are negligent in hiring, supervising, or keeping workers or contractors. If a company ignores warning signs, cuts corners on screening, or fails to act on past complaints, and someone is sexually assaulted as a result, that failure can be the basis of a civil claim.
In Los Angeles, that duty connects directly to how Uber designs and runs its platform. That includes how it screens drivers before they are allowed to pick up riders, how it monitors trips and complaints, and how quickly it removes drivers when serious safety issues come up.
Negligent hiring is about the company’s decision to let someone drive in the first place. Negligent retention is about what happens after warnings appear. Both can be part of an Uber sexual assault case.
Negligent hiring questions might include:
Negligent retention looks at what happens after the driver is active on the app:
When we evaluate an assault case, we look at what Uber knew or reasonably should have known. We study what safety systems were supposed to catch a dangerous driver, and which of those failed in practice. Then we connect those failures to the assault itself, to see if there is a solid basis for a negligent hiring or retention claim under California law.
After an assault, even simple tasks can feel heavy. Still, certain steps can make a legal claim stronger. A lawyer can guide you, but it helps to know what evidence often matters.
Helpful items to preserve include:
There is also evidence that survivors usually cannot access on their own. Through legal tools like subpoenas and discovery, a lawyer may seek:
Timing can matter. Reporting to law enforcement and to Uber as soon as reasonably possible can help create a record. Keeping the phone you used during the ride, and not wiping apps or messages, can preserve important digital evidence. Writing down or recording your memories, physical symptoms, and emotional reactions can also be useful later, even if it feels hard to revisit.
Summer in Los Angeles often means more rideshare trips. People stay out later, go to concerts, attend festivals, and meet friends across the city. That extra activity can create more chances for predatory drivers to take advantage of riders who are tired, distracted, or relying on the app to keep them safe.
Alcohol or fatigue can:
This is exactly why Uber’s duties to screen, monitor, and remove unsafe drivers are so important. The company knows people often use rideshare after drinking or when they are exhausted. It cannot treat those realities as surprises.
There are also some common-sense steps riders can take, without any blame if something still goes wrong:
If a driver ignores your request to stop or locks the doors, your safety comes first. Try to call for help if you can, and report what happened as soon as you safely can afterwards.
At Dordulian Law Group in Glendale, we focus on helping survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse, including those harmed in Uber and other rideshare vehicles throughout Greater Los Angeles. Our work centers on holding both individual offenders and responsible companies accountable under California law, when their failures help create the conditions for an assault.
When someone comes to us after an Uber assault, the process often includes:
We understand that reaching out to a lawyer can feel intimidating, especially after such a personal violation. Survivors deserve clear information about their rights, thoughtful guidance, and a team that takes their story seriously. An experienced Uber sexual assault lawyer can help you understand whether you may have strong legal options against both the driver and Uber itself, and support you in deciding what accountability and justice look like for you.
If you or a loved one experienced sexual assault during an Uber ride, our team at Dordulian Law Group is ready to listen, protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you deserve. An experienced Uber sexual assault lawyer from our firm can guide you through every step and handle the legal burdens so you can focus on healing. Reach out today through our contact page to schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation and learn about your options.
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