A Rosemont woman filed a lawsuit against the ride-hailing company Uber after allegedly being abandoned by her driver in an unsafe area following a concert, which preceded a violent sexual assault. As reported by The Sacramento Bee, the unnamed victim claims she was ejected from the Uber near a gas station in an area with reportedly high crime rates, following her vomiting in the vehicle on the night of May 28.
The lawsuit suggests that the driver, who had experienced a similar incident with a previous passenger, became frustrated and decided to swiftly remove the woman from his car, causing her to leave her phone and keys behind. She was approached by two individuals who offered assistance, but ultimately she was taken to an apartment and assaulted at knifepoint. "Nobody should have to go through what she went through," said Sarvenaz J. Fahimi of Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy, attempting to directly hold Uber accountable for the incident, as quoted in an article from ABC10.
Uber's policies, including a cleaning fee for messes, have come under scrutiny in this case, as the lawsuit states that while the company profits from passengers who have been drinking, it does not inform them that their safety could be compromised in such situations. The victim’s lawyers argue that Uber markets itself as a safe option for people who have been drinking, so failing to protect her was gross negligence.
On the following morning, the woman managed to escape the assailant’s apartment through a window and sought help from a nearby university. She later retrieved her belongings from the Uber driver, who, according to the lawsuit, "never offered an excuse for his actions, instead blaming (her) for vomiting in his vehicle," as represented by the attorneys. The Sacramento Police Department is currently investigating the incident, with detectives diligently following up on the case, but no suspect information has been released, authorities conveyed to The Sacramento Bee. In response to requests for comment, an Uber spokesperson articulated that what the individual experienced is "heartbreaking," and reaffirmed the company's commitment to safety. The lawsuit aims to challenge Uber’s liability in the event its drivers abandon passengers in risky circumstances, seeking an unspecified amount in damages and demanding a jury trial.
