Rideshare

Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic events a person can go through. Unfortunately, many Uber and Lyft passengers who trusted the rideshare companies to keep them safe instead experienced this devastating crime.

In fact, Uber released a 2024 safety report revealing a shocking 2,717 sexual assaults occurred on rideshare trips just between 2021 and 2022 alone, while the Washington Post reported Lyft recorded over 4,000 claims of sexual assault during a three year period of time.

Even one incident like this is too many, as consumers deserve to be able to trust the assurances made by rideshare app providers, including Uber’s promise that the “platform was built with safety in mind.” 

Unfortunately, Uber and Lyft fell short of living up to their safety guarantees, and many former riders who were assaulted are now taking legal action.

What constitutes Lyft or Uber assault?

Different states have different definitions of assault, but as this Arizona assault law explains, assault generally involves:

• Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing physical injury to someone
• Intentionally putting someone in “reasonable apprehension” of imminent physical injury (making someone fear you will hurt them)
• Knowingly touching someone else in order to injure, insult, or provoke them

If a driver physically harmed you, or threatened to, that driver may have engaged in illegal assault. 

Many Uber and Lyft cases specifically arise out of not just regular assault claims, though, but instead involve sexual assault.  The Department of Justice defines sexual assault as “any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by federal, tribal, or state law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent.”

Many different kinds of wrongful misconduct can be considered illegal sexual assault including:
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• Forcing someone to perform sexual acts
• Threatening someone if they don’t perform sexual acts
• Unwanted physical touching
• Rape or attempted rape 
• Indecent exposure

As the Seattle Police Department makes clear, any time someone is “forced, coerced, or manipulated into any unwanted sexual activity,” that is sexual assault.  

It is also NEVER your fault if someone assaults you, as the Seattle PD, and other law enforcement agencies nationwide have made clear time and again.  

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Why are Uber and Lyft being sued?

Uber and Lyft are being sued because people who used rideshare services trusted these companies to keep them safe, and the companies failed to do so. Uber and Lyft advertise their platforms as ways to connect with a trusted ride, but that is not necessarily the case. 

Uber and Lyft lawsuits allege that:
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• The rideshare companies failed to adequately conduct background screenings on drivers
• The companies failed to incorporate safety designs or essential safety features within their apps
• The companies did not remove drivers who had been credibly accused of sexually assaulting passengers. 
• The rideshare app owners failed to report assaults to the police
• The companies failed to respond to passenger complaints regarding unwanted or inappropriate behavior. 

Rideshare companies have since begun to correct course with new tools include a Women+ Connect feature on Lyft that pairs women with other women or with nonbinary drivers to reduce the risk of sexual assault.
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Still, for many, these moves come too late – and companies like Uber and Lyft can and should be held accountable if their negligence was the direct cause of your harm by the driver who was transporting you.
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How will Uber and Lyft cases work?

The first thing to know is that if you experienced a sexual assault and want to join the Uber lawsuit or Lyft lawsuit, you will not be taking legal action against the specific driver who harmed you. You are taking legal action against Uber or Lyft as those companies are ultimately responsible for putting you in a position where a driver assaulted you. 

You likely also will not need to go to court or be an active participant in litigation. Uber and Lyft cases have been consolidated in a mass tort claim and, more specifically, in a multi-district litigation (MDL). 

MDLs move different claims before one judge to make decisions on common issues. For example, one judge can decide whether a specific witness can testify or whether a particular type of document is admissible. 

Many MDLs settle, and even when cases go to trial, very few individual plaintiffs must be present in the courtroom.  
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You will retain your own claim, though, unlike in a class action, and you’ll need to provide certain information to your attorneys to be a participant in the case and to hopefully collect compensation if you and other plaintiffs win in court. 

Your attorney will let you know the details of what to expect throughout your case.

It’s also important to note that an Uber or Lyft assault lawsuit is a civil remedy, which means the case is decided in civil court and the penalties are typically monetary. This lawsuit is not a criminal case and if you were assaulted or harmed in any way by a driver of a rideshare vehicle, you may wish to consult with the police to launch a criminal investigation. 

Who can file a Rideshare sexual assault lawsuit? 

You may be eligible to join the Rideshare sexual assault lawsuit if:

• You used Uber or Lyft to order a ride
• You were sexually assaulted or injured by a rideshare driver during the course of your ride
  An attorney can provide insight into whether you are eligible. 

How to file an Uber lawsuit or Lyft lawsuit after an assault

Hiring the right attorney is critical to pursuing a lawsuit against Uber or Lyft. We are here to help you find the right legal professional to represent you.

We have partnered with trusted law firms nationwide who represent those impacted by assault in a rideshare vehicle. We’ll pair you with the right person who has an appropriate mix of sensitivity and legal skill and who can help you make things right. 

Give us a call today to schedule your consultation and learn more about how we can pair you with the best attorney for your case.
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