Rideshare False Imprisonment Incident Lawyers

Everyone knows that auto accidents can occur at anytime that you are on the road, regardless of whether you are driving your own vehicle, catching a ride with a friend, or on a rideshare ride. It’s a fact – auto accidents can happen at any time even while riding as a passenger in an Uber or a Lyft. Unfortunately, auto accidents are not the only thing that rideshare passengers have to worry about; passengers also have to worry about the risk presented by the rideshare drivers.

Unfortunately, rideshare drivers with bad intentions have kidnapped passengers in the past. They have prevented passengers from leaving by locking them in the vehicle and even by using force. Although many passengers have successfully escaped from these situations, many others have been physically and sexually assaulted after being forcefully kept inside the vehicle.

If your Uber or Lyft driver locked the door on you and refused to let you out of the car, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit for false imprisonment. For more information about your right to file a lawsuit, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our law firm as soon as possible. Our false imprisonment lawyers are ready to fight for your rights and help you recover the payout that you are owed.

The experts here at the Normandie Law Firm have decades of experience handling all sorts of claims, including false imprisonment claims. We are not afraid to take on the rideshare company and fight for your rights. If you are ready to learn more about your legal options and speak with our attorneys, contact us today.

What is False Imprisonment?

False imprisonment can be defined as the act of holding someone against their will. False imprisonment is similar to kidnapping, in which the victim is restrained intentionally and unlawfully. Unfortunately, rideshare passengers have been victims of false imprisonment in the past at the hands of their drivers. These drivers intentionally put the child-lock on their doors, lock their to prevent passengers from exiting, forcefully holding onto the passengers, threatening their passengers with violence if they exit the vehicle, etc. False imprisonment, in addition to being grounds for a civil lawsuit, is also a crime – it can be a misdemeanor (if no force or threat of force was used against the victim) or a felony (if force or threats were used).
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Possible Harm Resulting from False Imprisonment

False imprisonment often leads to significant mental and emotional distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), fear, depression, anxiety, etc. which could all give victims grounds to file for an emotional distress claim. Of course, if the false imprisonment escalated and the victim was physically or sexually attacked, many other injuries are likely. Regardless of the specific harm that you or a loved one suffered due to false imprisonment in an Uber or a Lyft, it is essential that you seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm as soon as possible.

Common Questions

Victims of false imprisonment might find themselves asking some of the following questions:

• My Uber driver didn’t let me out of the car. Can I sue?
• My Lyft driver didn’t let me out of the car. Can I sue?
• My Uber/Lyft driver locked the door on me and didn’t let me out. Can I sue?
• Do I have a case for false imprisonment if my rideshare driver didn’t let me out of the car?
• My Uber/Lyft driver forced me to stay in the car. Do I have a case?
• My Uber/Lyft driver would not let me leave the car. Can I sue?
• My Uber driver kidnapped me. What can I do?
• My Uber driver did not let me out of the car. What can I do?

In a nutshell, the answer to this question is yes. You could definitely have grounds to file a lawsuit for false imprisonment if your rideshare driver prevented you from leaving the vehicle. What are my rights if I was prevented from exiting the vehicle? Your right to sue will be explained in the sections below.

Can I Sue?

What are my rights? Can I sue? If you were falsely imprisoned by an Uber or Lyft driver, you could definitely file a lawsuit. Your right to sue is based on California law, which states that you are protected from being restrained. To be able to prove your false imprisonment claim, you and your legal team will need to prove that the imprisonment occurred intentionally, without your consent, and without any legal authority. In addition, victims do not need to prove that there was any physical violence used against them.

Can I sue even if I wasn’t physically harmed? Yes – you could still be eligible to file a lawsuit for false arrest even if the incident did not result in physical injuries. You could file an emotional distress claim for the mental and emotional harm resulting from the false imprisonment at the hands of your Uber or Lyft driver.

Can Uber or Lyft be liable? Yes, these rideshare companies can be liable for the harm resulting from your false imprisonment. Ultimately, the actions of their drivers reflect on their negligent hiring and screening process, and they should be held accountable.

For more information about your right to file a lawsuit after being false imprisoned by an Uber or Lyft driver, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our law firm as soon as possible.

What Should I Do?

If you were the victim of false imprisonment, there are a number of things that you should do to prepare to take legal action against Uber or Lyft. Of course, your first priority should be making sure that you are away from the driver and in a safe place. Once in a safe place, you should contact the local authorities as soon as possible and file a police report. You should also take a screenshot of the rideshare ride and report the incident to Uber or to Lyft. If there were any witnesses, you should collect their contact information for later reference. If you were injured, take photos of your injuries and seek medical attention. Most importantly, you should find a lawyer with experience in false imprisonment claims against Uber and Lyft.

Filing Your False Imprisonment Claim On Time

All claims are subject to a statute of limitations which determines the time that claimants have to file a lawsuit. In the state of California, false imprisonment claims are subject to a one-year statute of limitations, given that there was no forced used. If there was force or the threat of force, then you will have longer to file your lawsuit. For more information about the exact length of time that you have to pursue your false imprisonment claim against Uber or Lyft, do not hesitate to contact our experts at our firm immediately – if you fail to file your claim on time, you could lose your right to file your lawsuit entirely.

Contact Our Law Firm Today

If you were the victim of Uber false imprisonment or Lyft false imprisonment, you should seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm as soon as possible. Here at our law firm, our lawyers are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to sue Uber or Lyft and fight for your rights. Of course, our lawyers will be able to fight for your right to a financial recovery, which can include medical costs, lost pay, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and legal costs, based on the details of your claim. If you are ready to discuss your legal options with our attorneys, contact us today. We offer free legal services – including free consultations and free second opinions – and are ready to help you every step of the way. Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that you will not be required to pay anything upfront for our legal services. Because we also work on contingency, our clients will not be required to pay legal fees unless they win their claims; to put it simply, you will not pay, unless you win.

Contact Normandie Law Firm today if you are ready to speak with our Uber and Lyft false imprisonment lawsuit lawyers.