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How Do I Prove That I Was Sexually Assaulted?
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With how many sexual assault cases regularly go unreported, trying to collect evidence proving that you were attacked can feel intimidating. Fortunately, there are several ways that the authorities and your rideshare injury lawyer could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were attacked.
Obtaining a medical examination
Like with any other personal injury lawsuit, you’ll need to seek medical attention as soon as possible following the sexual assault. Even if your injuries are minor, or if you don’t want to receive treatment because of shame or the cost of medical bills, going to the hospital will be able to provide you with crucial evidence in order to win a rideshare assault case. And, if you do not wish to file a police report, you are able to receive treatment for your injuries anonymously.
However, if one is necessary, accepting or declining a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit is completely your decision. A SAEK, also known as a “rape kit,” is a forensic exam performed by a sexual assault nurse examiner. During the exam, you will be asked questions about your current prescriptions, health conditions, medical history, and any details you can recall about the assault. The nurse will then provide a full body examination and gently collect samples of evidence, such as traces of the attacker’s DNA, torn pieces of clothing, and other useful information.
These evidence kits can be a bit frightening to some, but they’re designed to be as comfortable and non-intrusive as possible. Again, accepting a SAEK is entirely up to you, and you can ask to stop the exam at any time. Thanks to the Violence Against Women Act, these exams are provided for free, so there’s no additional cost to you.
Filing a police report
You’re not required to file a police report if you need medical attention— that’s entirely your choice. However, working with law enforcement to hold your attacker accountable would largely increase your chance at winning a sexual assault lawsuit. If you were to file a police report, then the police would be able to open a criminal investigation against your attacker, and any evidence they uncovered would be fair game for your attorney to use against Uber or Lyft.
You also don’t have to file a police report immediately after an incident; you can wait until you’re ready before getting law enforcement involved. However, your case’s time limit might expire if you wait too long, so be sure to check the statute of limitations in your state before making that decision.
Collecting other evidence
The Uber or Lyft app (depending on which you used) will have a lot of valuable information about the incident that you’ll want to access. No matter how painful it may be to recollect the details of the incident, your sexual assault lawsuit will be much weaker if you delete any evidence you may have on your phone, so be sure to wait until you are emotionally ready to start collecting information.
When you’re ready, you’ll want to look for your previous orders in the Uber or Lyft app. Once you’ve found the trip of when the incident happened, take a screenshot of the trip order, proof of payment, the driver’s name, messages from the driver, and any other details you can find. You should also report the incident to Uber and Lyft so they can get more directly involved with assisting you with your case and taking action against the driver.
Reporting in the Uber app
To file a safety report from the Uber app, tap “Account” in the bottom-right corner of the screen, then tap “Help” in the top-left corner. Then, select “Help with a trip,” choose which trip the incident took place during, scroll down, and select “Report safety issue.”
Reporting in the Lyft app
To file a report in the Lyft app, tap the menu icon in the top-left corner of the screen to see your account overview. Tap the “Support and Safety” dropdown, and then tap “Get Help.” From there, scroll down until you get to “Accident, damage, or unsafe ride” and then tap “Passenger was unsafe.” You can then begin your report.
Join the sexual assault lawsuit against Uber and Lyft
If you or a close family member experienced Lyft or Uber sexual assault, you may be eligible to work with a rideshare lawyer and be rightfully compensated for your injuries and trauma.
Ready to file a claim ?
See if you qualify for the rideshare lawsuit.
Referenced Articles
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. (2024). What Is a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam? Retrieved from https://www.rainn.org/articles/rape-kit#:~:text=A%20rape%20kit%20may%20also,Documentation%20forms
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. (2024). Reporting to Law Enforcement. Retrieved from https://www.rainn.org/articles/reporting-law-enforcement
View more sources
Uber Technologies, Inc. (2024). Uber (Version 3.620.10000) [Mobile app]. App Store. Retrieved from https://apps.apple.com/us/app/uber-request-a-ride/id368677368
- Lyft, Inc. (2024). Lyft (Version 15.64.3) [Mobile app]. App Store. Retrieved from https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lyft/id529379082
About the Rideshare Assault Lawsuit
Products at-risk
Rideshare services offered by Uber and Lyft
Who's being sued?
Uber Technologies and Lyft, Inc.
Qualifying types of assault:
- Non-sexual assault or battery
- Inappropiate touching
- Inappropriate kissing
- Attempted sexual intercourse
- Forced to perform sexual acts
- Rape, or forced sexual intercourse
