If you have been sexually assaulted by a ride share driver in Chicago, Illinois, your safety and well-being come first. Get to a safe location, call 911 if you are in immediate danger, seek medical attention, and preserve any evidence you can. From there, reporting the incident to the ride share platform and contacting a personal injury attorney are both important steps toward holding the responsible parties liable.
Know that you are not alone in this; legal help is available. Until then, take note of the following so that you can protect yourself and your rights going forward.
Seek Medical Attention and Preserve Evidence
Getting medical care should be a priority, even if you are unsure about the extent of your physical injuries. A medical examination creates a record of what happened and can document injuries that may not be immediately visible. If possible, avoid showering, changing clothes, or washing your hands before being examined, as physical evidence from the assault may be critical to both a criminal investigation and a civil claim.
Save any digital records connected to the ride as well. Screenshots of your trip history and any messages exchanged through the app can all become important pieces of evidence later on.
Report the Assault
Filing a police report is not required to pursue a civil lawsuit, but it does create an official record of the incident. If you feel comfortable doing so, reporting the assault to Chicago law enforcement allows authorities to investigate and can support your case moving forward.
You should also report the driver through the Uber or Lyft app.
Both platforms have safety reporting features that you can utilize to potentially trigger an internal review of the driver’s account. While the rideshare companies have faced widespread criticism for how they handle these reports, making one still creates a documented trail that your attorney can use.
Determine Your Legal Rights and Options
A criminal case and a civil lawsuit are two separate paths; pursuing one does not prevent you from pursuing the other. The criminal case is handled by the state and focuses on punishing the driver. A civil claim, meanwhile, is filed by the survivor and focuses on recovering compensation for the harm that was caused.
In a civil sexual assault case in Chicago, you may be able to pursue a claim not only against the driver but also against the rideshare company itself. Although Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors, survivors have successfully argued that these companies bear responsibility for things like failing to properly screen drivers and not implementing adequate safety measures.
Illinois law imposes heightened duties on companies that transport passengers for hire under common carrier liability principles. Compensation in these cases may include both economic and non-economic damages, in addition to punitive damages in some circumstances.
Contact a Chicago Sexual Assault Attorney With Meyers & Flowers for Help
If you were assaulted by an Uber or Lyft driver in Chicago, IL, contacting an attorney who handles these cases is an important step toward protecting your rights. Contact Meyers & Flowers today at (630) 394-5189 to schedule a free consultation and get started with your case. Weāll immediately prioritize your case if you hire us and work hard to ensure you are fully compensated.