Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have become a routine part of daily life for many residents and visitors of Chattanooga.
People rely on them to commute to work at places like Unum, TVA, and Volkswagen; get home safely after an evening out in Southside; travel between neighborhoods like Red Bank and Hixson; or make their flight at the Chattanooga Airport. In those moments, passengers trust that rideshare platforms have taken meaningful steps to ensure their safety.
When that trust is violated by sexual assault or misconduct during a rideshare trip, the impact can be devastating. At Gary Massey Injury Lawyers, our Chattanooga rideshare sexual assault lawyers represent people who have experienced sexual assault, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment involving rideshare drivers. These civil cases focus on accountability, safety failures, and financial compensation for affected riders and drivers.
If you were assaulted during a rideshare trip in Chattanooga, you aren’t alone, and you may have legal options. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What Qualifies as Rideshare Sexual Assault?
Rideshare sexual assault is not limited to one type of behavior or a single moment. It can involve a wide range of unwanted sexual conduct that occurs during a rideshare trip, immediately before it begins, or right after it ends. In civil law, the focus is on whether inappropriate, nonconsensual behavior occurred and whether it caused harm.
Conduct that may qualify as rideshare sexual assault includes:
- Unwanted touching, groping, or physical contact
- Sexual comments, propositions, or explicit language
- Forced kissing or physical restraint
- Exposure or coerced sexual acts
- Assault that occurs when a passenger is impaired, asleep, or otherwise vulnerable
- Following a passenger after the ride ends and continuing unwanted contact
- Sexual misconduct during detours, stops, or while the vehicle is parked
These incidents may occur inside the vehicle, during pickup or drop-off, or immediately after a ride ends. Assault may also involve emotional coercion, intimidation, or exploitation of a power imbalance, especially when a passenger depends on a driver for safe transportation.
It’s important to note that civil law doesn’t always require physical injury to recognize harm. Emotional trauma, psychological injury, and disruption to a person’s sense of safety matter in these types of cases.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Rideshare Sexual Assault Incident?
Rideshare sexual assault cases often involve more than one potentially responsible party. Liability depends on the circumstances of the assault, the driver’s status, and the rideshare company’s actions—or inaction.
Potentially liable parties for a rideshare sexual assault may include:
- The rideshare driver for committing the assault
- The rideshare company for negligent hiring, screening, supervision, or safety failures
- Third parties in limited cases where other negligence contributed to the incident
Although rideshare companies classify their drivers as independent contractors instead of employees, that classification doesn’t automatically protect them from liability. Civil cases frequently focus on negligence-related issues like:
- Inadequate background checks
- Failure to respond to prior complaints
- Poor safety monitoring systems
- Lack of meaningful driver oversight
- App design flaws that reduce passenger safety
A civil claim can force companies to answer for systemic failures that led to incidents like these, not just wrongdoing on the part of their drivers.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim Against the Driver or Rideshare Company?
In Tennessee, civil sexual assault claims are subject to a statute of limitations, which strictly limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. The exact deadline depends on factors such as:
- The nature of the assault
- Whether the claim is against a person or corporation
- Whether any exceptions apply
Missing a filing deadline can permanently bar you from seeking compensation, even if you’re able to show clear wrongdoing. Speaking with a Chattanooga rideshare sexual assault attorney at Gary Massey Injury Lawyers as soon as you’re ready can help protect your rights and preserve important evidence for your case, including app data, trip records, prior complaints, and more.
What Compensation Can I Receive?
Civil compensation in a rideshare sexual assault case is intended to address the harm you’ve endured and the impact the assault has had on your life. While no amount of money can undo what happened, financial recovery can help support healing and stability.
Compensation may include:
- Medical expenses related to the assault
- Counseling and therapy costs
- Costs of prescription medications
- Lost income or diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Costs related to relocation or safety measures
- Punitive damages in cases involving extreme misconduct
Each case is unique. At Gary Massey Injury Lawyers, we work to understand the full scope of how the assault has affected your life and not just how it shows up in your medical records or bank account.
What Should I Do After a Rideshare Sexual Assault?
There is no “right” way to respond after experiencing sexual assault. What matters most is your safety and well-being. That said, some steps may help preserve your options if and when you choose to pursue a civil claim:
- Seek medical attention as soon as you’re able to do so.
- Preserve evidence, including clothing, screenshots, and app records, if possible.
- Write down what you remember when you feel like you’re able to do it.
- Report the incident to the rideshare company if you choose.
- Avoid communicating directly with insurers or corporate representatives alone.
- Consider speaking with a local lawyer who handles civil sexual assault cases.
You aren’t required to take every step or to take them immediately. Legal help can come later on your timeline. What matters most is ensuring you feel comfortable and confident to proceed during this difficult time.
Where Can I Receive Treatment in Chattanooga?
Medical care is an important part of recovery, whether you need immediate attention or ongoing support. Chattanooga has several hospitals equipped to provide care following sexual assault:
- Erlanger Hospital: Erlanger offers comprehensive emergency services and specialized care, including treatment for physical injuries and referrals for follow-up care after sexual assault.
- Parkridge Medical Center: Parkridge Medical Center provides emergency medical care, diagnostic services, and access to specialists who can assist with both immediate injuries and long-term health needs.
- CommonSpirit – Memorial Hospital: CommonSpirit – Memorial Hospital offers emergency and trauma care, along with compassionate medical support for people seeking treatment after traumatic events.
Medical records can also help document any physical injuries you suffered during the assault, which may become important evidence later for your claim.
Where Can I Get Emotional and Psychological Support?
Emotional and psychological support is just as important as physical care. Chattanooga has local organizations dedicated to helping people process trauma and regain stability:
- Partnership for Families, Children and Adults: This Chattanooga-based organization provides counseling, advocacy, and trauma-informed services for people impacted by sexual violence.
- Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee: SACET offers crisis support, counseling referrals, and advocacy resources for those affected by sexual assault.
- Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Center: The Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Center (SAVAC) provides confidential advocacy, crisis support, counseling resources, and accompaniment services for people affected by sexual assault in the Chattanooga and North Georgia region.
I’m a Rideshare Driver Who Was Assaulted by a Passenger—Do I Have a Case?
Yes. While many rideshare sexual assault cases involve passengers harmed by drivers, drivers can also experience sexual assault by passengers. When this happens, drivers may face physical injury, emotional trauma, and economic harm.
Civil claims by drivers may involve:
- Claims against the passenger who committed the assault
- Claims against the rideshare company for safety failures
- Claims related to inadequate response or support following reports
Drivers deserve safety, respect, and legal protection as well. Gary Massey Injury Lawyers can evaluate driver-focused cases with the same care and discretion that we provide to customers and riders who were assaulted.
How Can a Lawyer Help With My Rideshare Sexual Assault Claim?
Civil rideshare sexual assault cases are complex and emotionally demanding. A knowledgeable and experienced Chattanooga lawyer can help by:
- Explaining your legal options in plain language
- Conducting a private, respectful investigation
- Ensuring you feel heard and seen throughout the process
- Preserving digital evidence and ride data
- Identifying all responsible parties
- Handling communication with corporate defendants
- Protecting you from invasive or inappropriate tactics
- Pursuing fair compensation through settlement or trial
At Gary Massey Injury Lawyers, we prioritize discretion, consent, and control every step of the way.
Can My Civil Case Proceed at the Same Time as a Criminal Case?
Yes. In many situations, a civil rideshare sexual assault case can proceed at the same time as a criminal case, or even when no criminal charges are filed at all. Civil and criminal cases serve different purposes and follow different legal standards.
A criminal case is brought by the state and focuses on whether a crime occurred and whether the accused should face criminal penalties such as jail time or probation. The burden of proof is very high, and the decision to prosecute is made by the district attorney instead of the person who experienced the assault.
A civil case, on the other hand, is brought by the person who was harmed. Its purpose is to seek accountability and financial compensation for the physical, emotional, and psychological harm caused by the assault. The burden of proof is lower than in criminal court.
Because these cases are separate, each of the following is true:
- A civil claim doesn’t depend on or require a criminal conviction.
- A civil case may move forward even if criminal charges are delayed or declined.
- A civil lawsuit can focus on the rideshare company’s negligence.
Contact Our Chattanooga Rideshare Sexual Assault Lawyers
If you experienced sexual assault involving a rideshare driver, or were assaulted while driving for a rideshare company, you deserve to understand your rights and your options.
Gary Massey Injury Lawyers works hard to represent Chattanoogans in civil sexual assault cases with the professionalism, compassion, and resolve they deserve. Consultations are both free and confidential, and you pay us nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
When you’re ready, contact our team to talk through your situation and explore next steps.
