Rideshare services have skyrocketed in popularity as a way to get around Florida and other areas. While this is a quick and easy means of transportation and most drivers are professional, you never know who’s behind the wheel. If you have been sexually abused by a rideshare driver, it’s crucial to report them.
Seek medical attention
If you experience sexual abuse by your Lyft or Uber driver, the first thing to do is seek medical attention. Don’t go home and shower; go to your nearest emergency room so you can get medical care. If you are comfortable enough, you can also have a rape kit done so that DNA evidence can be collected on the rideshare driver.
Report the incident to the police
Report the sexual abuse to the police in person or over the phone. You could also ask someone at the hospital to call the police for you so that you can report the incident in person while you’re there getting medical attention. This might lead to a criminal investigation into the matter.
Report the incident to the rideshare company
Rideshare companies have policies against sexual abuse, assault, harassment and other similar misconduct. You may want to report your experience to the company so that it can take its own action against the driver. You can directly call the rideshare company or make a report through the app.
Document everything
Keeping a journal to note all the details of the incident is wise. It’s best to do this immediately after it happens to ensure that everything is still fresh in your mind. You can use this as evidence if you file a lawsuit against the rideshare driver.
You deserve to be safe while using rideshare services. Sexual abuse or abuse of any kind is a violation of your rights.