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Uber & Lyft/Rideshare Victims

Rideshare Sexual Assault Lawyers in Northern Illinois

Personal Attention After Sexual Assault in an Uber or Lyft

Rideshare sexual assault claims require close analysis of the driver’s conduct, the company’s practices, and the records connected to the ride. At Turner Law Group, we represent survivors and families pursuing civil claims involving Uber and Lyft throughout DeKalb County, Illinois, Kane County, Kendall County, and Northern Illinois.

Our firm has represented individuals and families in Illinois personal injury claims since 1981. Led by Attorneys Rick Turner, Margie Komes Putzler, and Lauren Edmunds, we give each client individual attention and build claims around the specific incident, available evidence, and the survivor's losses.

Speak with us about an Uber or Lyft sexual assault claim. Call (800) 653-0198 to request a free consultation.

Who May Be Liable for a Rideshare Sexual Assault?

A survivor may have a civil claim against the individual rideshare driver. Depending on the facts, the rideshare company’s actions or failures may also support a liability claim. These are separate questions that require analysis of the specific incident.

Rideshare sexual assault litigation may involve allegations of inadequate driver screening, failures to address earlier passenger complaints, or insufficient safety features and driver monitoring. Whether an allegation can proceed depends on what occurred, what the company knew, and which records are available.

Claims Under the Illinois Gender Violence Act

The Illinois Gender Violence Act permits civil actions for qualifying gender-related violence. The law may also impose liability on an employer for violence committed by an employee or agent in the course of employment when statutory failures involving supervision, training, monitoring, investigation, or remedial measures apply.

Whether a rideshare company meets the law’s requirements for liability can depend on the relationship between the parties and evidence about company practices. We examine those issues without assuming every assault involving a driver creates the same claims.

Illinois Filing Periods for Sexual Assault Civil Claims

Illinois adult sexual assault civil claims generally have a two-year filing period from the date of injury under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. The Illinois Gender Violence Act may provide a different period, generally seven years after the cause of action accrued.

Illinois also imposes no time limit on a civil claim when the perpetrator was convicted of a Class X felony arising from the same conduct. Filing periods can depend on the claims asserted, the survivor’s circumstances, and the criminal case, if one exists. A legal review can determine which deadline controls.

Evidence in an Uber or Lyft Sexual Assault Claim

Evidence can establish the ride timeline, document what was reported, and show how the incident affected the survivor. We identify relevant material based on the circumstances and the records that exist.

Records that may be important include:

  • Rideshare trip data: Ride confirmations, route information, pickup and drop-off details, driver identification, and app-based trip records.
  • Communications and reports: In-app messages, communications with the rideshare company, incident reports, and related correspondence.
  • Medical or counseling documentation: Records of treatment or counseling connected to the incident and its effects.
  • Facility or personnel records: Available records from locations or personnel connected to the ride or incident.

Survivors and families should preserve available ride details, app communications, reports, and treatment documentation. Evidence differs from case to case, and a missing category of records doesn’t by itself determine whether a claim can proceed.

Financial Losses & Personal Effects

We evaluate measurable financial losses, including qualifying medical or counseling expenses and other documented costs connected to the assault.

Damages may also address pain, suffering, and personal effects that can’t be measured solely through bills or receipts. The assessment must reflect the evidence and the survivor’s individual experience. We don’t use a standard dollar estimate because the nature and extent of these losses differ in every case.

Uber Passenger Sexual Assault Multidistrict Litigation

Federal Uber passenger sexual assault lawsuits, including cases originating in Illinois, have been consolidated in In re: Uber Technologies, Inc., Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation, MDL No. 3084. Judge Charles R. Breyer oversees the proceeding, and at least one case originating in Northern Illinois has been transferred into it.

Multidistrict litigation coordinates federal lawsuits that share factual issues for pretrial matters such as discovery and motions. It isn’t a class action. Each survivor in MDL No. 3084 retains an individual personal injury lawsuit and receives an individual determination of damages.

Coordination doesn’t mean every Uber claim belongs in the multidistrict litigation. Lyft-related claims and cases with different procedural circumstances require separate analysis. The appropriate forum can depend on the allegations, where the case is filed, and the orders governing the coordinated proceeding.

Free Consultations for Northern Illinois Survivors & Families

A consultation is an opportunity to discuss the incident, available records, potential civil options, and filing periods. We offer free consultations and same-day appointments for survivors and families across DeKalb, Kane, and Kendall Counties and throughout Northern Illinois. Legal services are also available in Spanish.

We’ll explain the available attorney fee arrangements during the consultation. A contingency fee is an arrangement in which attorney compensation depends on a recovery in the case, but no particular arrangement applies until its terms are confirmed.

We approach these conversations with discretion, personal attention, and careful preparation. You can ask questions before deciding how to proceed, and you don’t need to know which legal claim or court process may apply before speaking with us.

Request a free consultation with Turner Law Group by calling (800) 653-0198 today.

Real People, Real Results

Over Millions Recovered for Those Injured
  • $1.1 Million Auto Accident
  • $1.125 Million Auto Accident
  • $647,500 Auto Accident
  • $450,000 Auto Accident
  • $1.3 Million Auto Accident
  • $625,000 Auto Accident

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FAQs

Common Answers To Your Questions
  • What qualifies as a personal injury?

    A personal injury generally refers to any bodily injury sustained in an accident, from minor bruises to severe brain trauma. The most common personal injury claims arise from harm sustained from traffic wrecks, slip and fall accidents, defective products, dangerous property conditions, and medical malpractice.

  • What is the personal injury statute of limitations in Illinois?

    Under state law, the statute of limitations (or deadline) for most personal injury claims in Illinois is two years from the date of the accident. However, for claims against governmental agencies, there are special limitation periods that may be as short as a year. You should always consult with an attorney on what particular limitations period might apply to your claim. You should seek legal help immediately, as a delay may be fatal to your claim. Unless you have a special exception, your claim will be thrown out if you attempt to file after the limitations period has passed.


    Because every personal injury claim is different, it is difficult to determine an average settlement. A victim who lost a limb will likely need to receive more in medical expenses than someone who broke an arm, for instance. Although personal injury claims tend to average anywhere between $3000 to $75,000—an extremely broad range—there may be significant economic and noneconomic factors in your individual case that may indicate that your particular claim would be valued at a significantly higher figure at trial in front of a jury. An attorney can help you estimate your unique losses based on the facts of your case. The knowledge of an attorney experienced in jury verdict value is extremely important. You should be entitled to make up for your specific losses at the very least.
     

  • What evidence is needed for a personal injury claim?

    Necessary evidence can vary case by case depending on the specifics of your situation. However, one of the most helpful pieces of evidence is your medical records. If you can prove that you sought medical attention for a serious injury after an accident, you are more likely to receive compensation to cover the expenses associated with said injury. Other helpful evidence includes any photographs of the accident scene, accident reports, witness statements, insurance forms, receipts, and any other physical evidence related to the injury.

  • What is the average settlement for a personal injury?

    Because every personal injury claim is different, it is difficult to determine an average settlement. A victim who lost a limb will likely need to receive more in medical expenses than someone who broke an arm, for instance. This means that personal injury claims tend to average anywhere between $3000 to $75,000—an extremely broad range. An attorney can help you estimate your unique losses based on the facts of your case. You should be entitled to make up for your specific losses at the very least.