Uber Releases Safety Report Revealing Frighening Number of Sexual Assault Incidents

by | Jan 3, 2020

People across the country use the ridesharing app Uber to get from one place to another. According to the company, between 2017 and 2018, there were over 3 million trips a day in the U.S. alone. That’s about 2.3 billion trips per year. Although this number is impressive and speaks to the growing popularity and use of the services, Uber recognized that it also needed to focus on another set of statistics: those involving the safety of drivers and riders.

In December of 2019, Uber released a report that revealed the extent of safety incidents involving the ridesharing platform. The company stated that, although these are hard issues to talk about, they needed to be examined and provided to the public to increase the safety of the people using the app, as well as members of the public. Uber stated that “keeping this information in the dark doesn’t make anyone safer.”

Reports of Sexual Assault Incidents

To gather and analyze data regarding sexual assault cases, Uber partnered with the National Sexual Violence Center and the Urban Institute. According to the safety report, between 2017 and 2018, there were 5,981 incidents of sexual abuse reported.

The 2-year analysis revealed the following:

  • Unwanted kissing of a non-sexual body part: 1,164 cases
  • Attempted rape: 587 cases
  • Groping: 3,000 cases
  • Non-consensual kissing of a sexual body part: 766 cases
  • Rape: 464 cases

Uber’s analysis showed that both riders and drivers were reported to have been the victim of sexual assault during their rideshare experience. The numbers revealed that 45% of riders were accused to have committed an offense, and 54% were drivers. The remaining 1% were unknown or third-parties.

The sexual abuse data included in the report included incidents that happened:

  • During the trip: When the driver has accepted a ride request and is on their way to pick up the rider. Or when the passenger has been picked up and is being driven to their destination.
  • After the trip: This included incidents that happened within 48 hours after the trip had been completed.

Uber acknowledged that law enforcement was involved in only 37% of the sexual abuse cases. The company’s Chief Legal Officer, Tony West, told NBC News that this offense often goes underreported for a number of reasons, and it’s the victim’s choice to tell their story to the police. If Uber receives a report of sexual assault occurring during or after a ride, it will only inform law enforcement of the incident if the victim gives permission.

Other Safety Incidents Analyzed

In addition to looking at reports of sexual assault, Uber also examined car accident fatalities and physical assault fatalities. Between 2017 and 2018, 107 people were killed in collisions involving Uber vehicles. During that same period, 19 people died in Uber-related physical assault incidents.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C.

If you or a loved one was a victim of sexual assault in an Uber or any other Uber related safety incident in Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia, our Personal Injury Lawyer are ready to provide the compassionate yet aggressive legal advocacy you need to seek justice. We know the impacts of damages suffered in personal injury and sexual assault cases, and we will work toward recovering just compensation on your behalf.

To discuss your case today, call us at (202) 659-8600 or contact us online.

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