Rochester, New York Rideshare Sexual Assault Lawsuits

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer, Has Spent Years Helping Survivors of Sexual Abuse Assert Their Rights. If You or a Loved One Have Been Injured by an Abusive Uber Driver, Our Experienced Team of Attorneys Could Help You Assess Your Damages, negotiate a Settlement, or Press Your Claim to Trial.

It is easy to forget that Uber is still new to Rochester.

But for a company that’s been in business for scarcely a decade, its history is cloaked in controversy. Even as Uber and competitors like Lyft continue to expand, safety watchdogs have repeatedly raised concerns that the rideshare industry appears to prioritize profitability over passenger safety.

In cities around the world, Uber has been accused of putting passengers at risk by hiring drivers with serious criminal records and violently aggressive personalities. Each year, hundreds of passengers men, women, and children of all ages report being victimized by drivers who no other company would have trusted with a customer’s safety.

Far too often, rideshare companies respond to allegations of sexual harassment and assault with a shrug. Sometimes they cooperate with law enforcement; sometimes they will deactivate a driver’s profile. But for years, they have refused to accept responsibility for the consequences of their hiring practices and personnel-screening strategies, telling the court that a big out-of-state corporation cannot be held liable for the actions of a rogue driver.

Uber, Lyft, and their competitors are now being held accountable in court. Across the country, courts have given the green light for sexual assault survivors and their lawyers to pool their resources in mass tort litigation. These concentrated sets of lawsuits give plaintiffs an edge over standalone litigation, while still giving survivors the right to resolve their own cases on their own terms.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping survivors of sexual assault assert their rights to a fair recovery. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to build the kind of compelling, evidence-based case needed to take on a company with near-limitless resources, and we have the results to prove it. Call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 585-939-3939 to discuss your case with an experienced rideshare sexual assault lawyer and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Suing a rideshare company can be incredibly complicated.

One of the biggest challenges in trying to sue Uber or Lyft relates to liability. Almost every rideshare company in the United States has sought to shield itself from liability by hiring drivers exclusively as independent contractors. Unlike small businesses that hire contractors to save money on payroll, the rideshare industry does it to insulate itself from lawsuits filed under the concept of respondeat superior. Under respondeat superior, employers can be held directly liable for certain negligent or criminal acts committed by employees. Because Uber and Lyft hire drivers as contractors, rather than salaried employees, they cannot generally be held responsible for sexual assault under common theories of vicarious liability.

For better or worse, Uber and Lyft’s exemption from respondeat superior has held up in courts across the country. But survivors and their lawyers have changed tactics. Now, instead of arguing that rideshare companies should be held liable for the act of assault, they are presenting evidence to show that the apps’ own practices are, in and of themselves, dangerous.

In California alone, more than 2,500 individual plaintiffs have joined forces as part of a mass tort alleging systemic and systematic negligence at Uber. This mass tort is very similar to a personal injury lawsuit. But instead of a single plaintiff litigating a standalone claim, mass torts involve multiple parties all raising similar allegations against the same company.

Participating in a mass tort lets survivors and their lawyers pool resources and share evidence obtained through discovery. This helps turn the tables on big companies, which usually count on having much more time and money to spend in court than the person suing them.

Critically, mass torts do not come at the cost of your independence. Unlike a class-action lawsuit, any settlement or award you secure through a mass tort claim is yours and yours alone.

Lawyers, courts, and insurance companies all use the term damages to describe compensation for different forms of loss. In New York, damages typically fall into either of the following two categories:

1. Economic damages. Economic damages, or special damages, help cover the financial costs of an assault. Your special damages account for the losses you have already sustained, your existing hospital bills, lost income from work, and therapy-related expenses, among other things, as well as the money you will need moving forward. In general, economic damages correspond with set dollar amounts, which can be validated through receipts and expert analyses.
2. Non-economic damages. Non-economic damages, sometimes called general damages, provide financial relief for harms that have no inherent monetary value. They help compensate for feelings of anguish, loss of enjoyment, and the development of mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Non-economic damages tend to be a significant component in sexual assault claims, as the psychological trauma of an attack can last far longer than most physical injuries.

In rare cases, New York courts can also award punitive damages. Punitive damages are not compensatory; they are not intended to help relieve the plaintiff’s pain, suffering, and hardship. Instead, punitive damages are designed as a form of punishment; they are usually only levied against companies that engaged in gross negligence or disregard for the safety and well-being of their customers. Obtaining punitive damages means meeting a high standard, but they could come into play in a claim against Uber or Lyft.

Unlike many states, New York does not cap damages in most sexual assault lawsuits. In other words, you could receive as much money as you need to reclaim your financial independence and to begin build back. However, you cannot expect a rideshare company to go down without a fight. Uber, Lyft, and their competitors have spent years telling judges and juries around the country that rideshare platforms are not responsible for drivers’ crimes. Even if you have a rock-solid case, they will likely stick to their guns, avoiding talks and refusing to settle.

You do not have to go up against a multibillion-dollar company alone.

Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped our clients across Upstate New York secure more than $300 million in damages. Our highly experienced team of attorneys has extensive experience with sexual assault claims and knows how to use the mass torts process to our clients’ advantage. If you think you could have a case, call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today to find out how we could help you protect your right to a fair recovery. 

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 585-939-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Rochester, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!