Uber and Lyft assault claims in New Jersey

Survivors of a rideshare sexual assault in New Jersey are believed, and the law provides real avenues for accountability. Civil claims are filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, in the county where the assault occurred or where the transportation network company does business, and survivors may generally proceed under a pseudonym (Jane or John Doe) to protect their privacy. New Jersey requires driver background checks of platforms such as Uber and Lyft — the foundation of negligent-hiring, negligent-vetting and negligent-supervision theories against the company, alongside vicarious-liability and direct-negligence counts. Because these companies embed arbitration clauses in their app terms, early motion practice often contests whether an assault claim falls within the agreement. Survivors seeking support can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) for confidential, 24/7 help. Preserving trip records, in-app messages and the driver's identifying details strengthens a claim.