If you or a loved one were sexually assaulted by an Uber driver in Las Vegas, NV, or another similar incident, it’s critical to seek legal advice. You have the right to seek financial compensation. An experienced Las Vegas Uber sexual assault lawyer at Battle Born Injury Lawyers can help you seek full compensation from your attacker and possibly Uber itself.
Our lawyers have over 85 years of experience handling complex personal injury cases–and winning. In fact, we’ve already won over $100 million for our clients.
If you were attacked, you deserve all the justice that the law can offer. To learn more about your legal options, call our law offices in Las Vegas, Nevada, at 702-570-9000 to schedule a free consultation.
Why Should I Call Battle Born Injury Lawyers for Help With My Uber Sexual Assault Case in Las Vegas?
You expect to be safe when calling a rideshare service to pick you up. You’ve heard the cautionary tales–but if you’re like most people, you thought Uber had taken precautions to prevent attacks from happening.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. It’s also unfortunate that while the company is arguably the only party that could have prevented the attack, they don’t want to take full responsibility. Our experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorneys are prepared to stand up and fight to get the justice you deserve.
When you hire our team, count on us to:
- Investigate and collect evidence to prove your case
- Identify all legal options for recovering compensation
- Determine whether you’re eligible to participate in multi-district litigation (MDL)
- Hire leading experts to strengthen your case
- Negotiate for a full and fair settlement
- File a lawsuit and fight for every dollar you deserve in the courtroom
At Battle Born Injury Lawyers, we work on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay anything upfront to hire us. Instead, you pay us a percent of the compensation we recover in your case. We only get paid if you do.
Our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers offer free and no-obligation case reviews. Contact us today to schedule yours.
Overview of the Laws on Sexual Assault in Nevada
Sexual assault is a serious criminal offense in Nevada. If your attacker is convicted, they’ll face a lengthy prison sentence, sex offender registration, and potentially a category A felony.
While sexual assault has a specific definition under Nevada criminal laws, sex crimes can take many different forms.
At Battle Born Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of sexual assault cases, including:
- Rape
- Attempted rape
- Unwanted sexual contact or touching
- Obscene or indecent exposure
- Sexual extortion
- Forcing sexual acts on someone who is unable to consent
- Taking photos or videos of a sexual nature without consent
These offenses all carry criminal charges. They’re also intentional torts. Under Nevada law, you have the right to pursue compensation in civil court if you were a victim of a sex crime. That’s true regardless of whether your assailant was convicted of a crime.
What Should I Do If I Was Sexually Assaulted by an Uber or Lyft Driver in Las Vegas?
The moments surrounding a sexual attack are extremely overwhelming. Even trying to think clearly can be difficult.
That said, if you were a victim of a sex crime, there are several steps you can take to protect your health and your legal rights.
It’s important to:
- Call 911 as soon as possible and report the attack.
- Refrain from showering or changing your clothing until a doctor has examined you.
- Seek medical attention at the nearest hospital. A qualified healthcare provider can perform an examination and work with law enforcement to preserve evidence.
- Locate the safety feature on the Uber or Lyft app and report the assault to the rideshare company.
- Contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can start working on your case immediately.
At Battle Born Injury Lawyers, we offer free consultations. We know it can be difficult to seek help after being sexually assaulted. Getting legal help is also the best way to get justice and start moving on with your life.
Statistics on Sexual Assault Involving Uber Drivers
Unfortunately, that data shows that Uber passengers aren’t always as safe as they should be during rides. Between a just-passed three-year period, 9,805 cases of sexual assault involving Uber drivers were reported. Those cases included 852 reports of rape.
Sexual assault in Nevada is a serious problem even when you’re not dealing with a rideshare driver. Nevada has the fifth-highest rape rate in the United States. Overall, 1,439 rapes were reported in Las Vegas alone during a recent year.
What Is My Las Vegas Uber Sexual Assault Case Worth?
The value of your personal injury case depends on many unique factors, including:
- The nature of your injuries
- The expenses you’ve incurred, including medical treatment
- The emotional damage caused by the ordeal
- Any lost income while you recover
- How the attack is likely to change your future
The more the injury and attack have changed your life, the higher your expenses tend to be–both now and over the course of your lifetime.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Sexual Assault in Las Vegas?
You can seek compensation for both your economic damages and non-economic damages.
Some common examples of the damages you may have suffered include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Lost future earning potential and lost employment opportunities
- Counseling and rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Depression
- PTSD and fear
- Damage to relationships
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Loss of fertility
- Punitive damages to deter future wrongdoing
It’s important to consider both your current losses and projected future losses when calculating your damages.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Damages in an Uber Sexual Assault Case?
Most often, two parties can be held liable for your damages:
- The driver who committed the crime
- The rideshare company that failed to take adequate steps to keep you safe
You may have heard that car accident victims can’t directly sue Uber or Lyft for damages after an accident. The same isn’t true in cases involving a driver’s criminal acts. In fact, hundreds of lawsuits have already been filed against Uber for failing to do enough to protect passengers from assault and sexual assault.
What Is the Legal Basis for Recovering Damages After an Uber Driver’s Sexual Attack?
Uber drivers can be held financially accountable for their own intentional wrongdoing. That said, it may be difficult to recover full compensation for your losses from the Uber driver alone.
Cases against Uber are often based on negligence.
Negligence means:
- Uber owed you a legal duty of care
- They breached that duty
- The breach of duty allowed the assault to occur
- You suffered damages
Uber operates their business to make a profit. They owe their customers a legal duty to keep them reasonably safe. That includes providing car insurance to cover accident-related damages.
The scope of Uber’s duty also includes taking reasonable steps to prevent drivers from committing criminal acts. The rideshare company may be responsible for:
- Failing to conduct adequate background checks on drivers
- Failing to install dash cams and other types of security in Uber vehicles
- Failing to follow up on prior safety complaints against the Uber driver
- Making public statements that misrepresent the safety of the Uber platform
In Nevada, the standard of proof is lower in civil cases. Instead of the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard, you must prove that the sexual assault occurred by a “preponderance of the evidence” standard. That means you can win your civil case even if your attacker isn’t found guilty in criminal court.
Sexual Assault Can Leave You Struggling With Serious and Long-Term Damage
Depending on the severity of the attack, you may have sustained serious injuries.
Some examples of the types of physical injuries victims of sexual assault may suffer include:
- Concussions
- Facial injuries
- Eye injuries
- Broken bones
- Crushing injury
- Nerve damage
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Severe bruising
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal injuries
- Joint injuries
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Infections
- Unwanted pregnancy
Sexual assault is also incredibly traumatic. The trauma and emotional pain you suffer can last for years, if not forever. When you hire our lawyers, count on us to consider both your physical and emotional suffering when we’re fighting for compensation.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After Being Sexually Assaulted by an Uber Driver in Nevada?
Contact our attorneys as soon as you can for help determining how much time you have to file a sexual assault lawsuit in Nevada. A recently passed law adjusted the state’s statute of limitations for these cases. No matter when your incident took place, you might still have the right to take legal action.
Contact a Las Vegas Uber Sexual Assault Lawyer for a Free Case Review
If you were a victim of sexual assault involving a rideshare driver, you don’t have to handle the legal issues alone. You deserve time to focus on your well-being. Instead, call Battle Born Injury Lawyers to learn how an experienced Las Vegas Uber sexual assault lawyer can help you get the full compensation you deserve.
