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Reporting to Uber or Lyft
Both Uber and Lyft have in-app reporting mechanisms for sexual assault — accessible through the app's help center or safety features. Reporting to the platform creates a record of the complaint, generates a case number, and triggers (in theory) an internal review process. However, many survivors have reported unsatisfactory experiences with platform responses, including form acknowledgments, deactivation of the driver's account only after public pressure, and lack of meaningful follow-up.
Before reporting to the platform, consult with an attorney. Your report to Uber or Lyft is discoverable in litigation and may be used by the company's defense team. An attorney can advise you on what to include in a platform report and how to document your own copy of the report and any response. In some cases, an attorney may advise making the platform report through their office rather than directly, to preserve attorney-client privilege over the communication.
Reporting to Law Enforcement
Reporting to police is an option, not a requirement. A police report initiates a criminal investigation and can result in criminal charges against the driver, but it also involves sharing your account with law enforcement, potentially testifying, and navigating a system that survivors sometimes find unsupportive. If you choose to report to law enforcement, a SANE exam conducted in conjunction with the report creates forensic evidence that both the criminal case and your civil claim can use.
Rape crisis centers and victim advocates can accompany you to law enforcement interviews and hospital examinations if you choose to report. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN: 1-800-656-HOPE) can connect you with local advocates who provide this support. Advocates are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice, but they can provide emotional support and help you navigate the reporting process.
Confidential Reporting and Anonymous Options
Many rape crisis centers offer confidential or anonymous reporting options that create a record of the assault without triggering a formal law enforcement investigation. These records can document the incident for your own records and may be relevant if you later decide to pursue civil litigation or criminal reporting. Your attorney can advise on whether any confidential report you have made is discoverable in litigation.
Key data
Data & Statistics
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) — confidential, 24/7
RAINN
Reporting to Uber or Lyft is not required before pursuing a civil claim
N.D. California MDL No. 3084 — plaintiff eligibility criteria
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Guides
- Uber Sexual Assault LawsuitUber faces consolidated multi-district litigation in the Northern District of California (MDL No. 3084) involving thousands of sexual assault claims from passengers. The cases allege that Uber's inadequate driver background checks, failure to remove drivers with prior complaints, and insufficient in-app safety measures enabled assaults that a more responsible platform would have prevented.
- Campus Rideshare Sexual AssaultCollege students are among the most frequent rideshare users and face elevated risk of rideshare assault, particularly during late-night bar hours. Campus assaults may involve Title IX considerations if any university nexus exists, and minor plaintiffs have extended time to file civil claims due to SOL tolling until age 18.
- SANE Exam: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner EvidenceA sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) exam is the gold standard for documenting physical evidence of sexual assault. SANE exams are available at no cost to survivors at most hospital emergency departments and rape crisis centers, and the evidence collected can support both criminal prosecution and civil litigation — but you do not need a SANE exam to pursue a civil claim.
- PTSD and Psychiatric Injury as Compensable DamagesPost-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, and other psychiatric injuries caused by rideshare sexual assault are fully compensable as non-economic damages in civil litigation. Psychiatric injury is often the largest component of damages in assault cases — and it can be documented, quantified, and presented to juries through treating clinicians and forensic psychology experts.
- Rideshare Assault Claims Involving MinorsWhen a minor is assaulted during a rideshare trip, their parent or guardian can file a civil claim on their behalf, and the statute of limitations is tolled (suspended) until the child turns 18. This means more time is available to file, but consulting an attorney as soon as possible is still important to preserve evidence and understand the child's rights.
- Rideshare Assault MDL Status in 2026As of early 2026, both the Uber and Lyft sexual assault MDLs are in active pre-trial proceedings in the Northern District of California. Discovery is ongoing, bellwether trial selections are underway, and global settlement discussions are reported to be in progress. Joining the MDL now — while proceedings are active — provides access to the benefits of consolidated discovery and positions your case favorably for any global resolution.
- Lyft Sexual Assault LawsuitLyft faces its own multi-district litigation for sexual assault claims, consolidated separately from Uber's MDL in the Northern District of California. Lyft's smaller market share produces proportionally comparable assault allegations, with similar claims of inadequate background checks, failure to remove dangerous drivers, and insufficient passenger safety infrastructure.
- Rideshare Driver Background ChecksUber and Lyft driver background checks use name-based database searches that miss criminal records under aliases, from states with limited reporting, and from international jurisdictions. This is structurally weaker than fingerprint-based checks required of taxi drivers, school employees, and healthcare workers in most states — and that structural gap is at the center of most rideshare assault lawsuits.
- Uber Safety Report Data: What the Numbers Really MeanUber's 2022 U.S. Safety Report disclosed 3,824 sexual assault incidents across 2019 and 2020 — but this figure represents only assaults reported directly to Uber by passengers. With sexual assault reporting rates as low as 1 in 5, the true number of Uber assaults may be many times higher. The report was released only after years of litigation pressure and does not include Uber Eats delivery incidents.
- Rideshare Assault Evidence: What Records ExistRideshare companies maintain extensive digital records for every completed trip including GPS route data, timestamps, driver identity, vehicle information, and complaint histories. Through litigation discovery, your attorney can compel Uber or Lyft to produce these records, which often form critical evidence in sexual assault civil cases.
- Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations by StateCivil statutes of limitations for sexual assault claims have been dramatically extended in most states since 2017, with many states now providing 10-20 years or no time limit at all. If you were assaulted during a rideshare ride, even years ago, please speak with an attorney before concluding your time has passed.
- Anonymous Filing in Rideshare Sexual Assault CasesMany survivors of rideshare sexual assault can pursue civil claims while protecting their identity through pseudonymous filing (Jane Doe or John Doe), protective orders limiting access to identifying information, and confidential settlement agreements. Protecting your privacy is a priority that experienced rideshare assault attorneys are equipped to fight for in every jurisdiction.
- Trauma-Informed Legal Process for SurvivorsPursuing a civil rideshare assault claim does not have to re-traumatize you. Attorneys who specialize in this area of law understand trauma responses, work at your pace, coordinate with your mental health providers, and advocate for procedural protections that minimize the burden on survivors throughout the legal process.
- Criminal vs. Civil Cases: How They InteractCriminal prosecution and civil litigation are entirely separate legal proceedings with different purposes, different standards of proof, and different outcomes. You can pursue a civil claim against Uber, Lyft, and the driver regardless of whether a criminal case exists, is ongoing, or resulted in acquittal. Civil claims are about compensation for your harm; criminal cases are about punishment and public accountability.
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