Every ride requested through a rideshare app comes with an implicit promise of safety. When Uber and Lyft fail to fulfill that promise — through inadequate background checks, failure to remove dangerous drivers, or systemic indifference to survivor reports — the companies bear legal responsibility for the harm survivors experience. Uber's 2022 U.S. Safety Report, released only after sustained legal and public pressure, disclosed 3,824 reports of sexual assault in just two years of rides. Advocacy organizations and litigation experts believe those numbers dramatically undercount the true scope because most survivors never report to Uber or Lyft, let alone law enforcement. Both companies now face consolidated multi-district litigation (MDL) proceedings — Uber in the Northern District of California, Lyft in the same court — where thousands of individual claims have been joined for pre-trial proceedings. Civil litigation against rideshare platforms is separate from and independent of any criminal case, and survivors can pursue civil claims regardless of whether a criminal prosecution occurred or resulted in conviction. An experienced rideshare sexual assault attorney can evaluate your case confidentially, explain your rights, and pursue maximum compensation with complete discretion.
Litigation Timeline
Case Resolution: Settlement or Trial
Most rideshare sexual assault cases resolve through negotiated settlements rather than trials. MDL bellwether trials — where a small number of representative cases go to trial to assess likely jury outcomes — influence global settlement values across all filed cases. Your attorney will negotiate on your behalf and present any settlement offer to you for your decision. You are never required to settle — the decision is always yours. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your case can proceed to trial where you would have the option to testify or, in many jurisdictions, have your account presented through other evidence and expert testimony.
proceduralInvestigation, Evidence Preservation, and Filing
Your attorney sends preservation demands to Uber or Lyft requiring them to retain all records related to your trip, the driver's history, prior complaints against the driver, and the platform's safety response. Through litigation discovery, your attorney can obtain trip GPS records, driver background check documentation, the driver's complaint history, internal communications about your report, and Uber or Lyft's safety policies. Your attorney will evaluate whether to file in the federal MDL, in state court, or both. You will be guided through this process at a pace that respects your wellbeing.
proceduralContact a Rideshare Sexual Assault Attorney
Contact an attorney who specializes in rideshare sexual assault civil litigation. The consultation is free, completely confidential, and carries no obligation. Your attorney can advise you on the evidence that exists in your case, how to preserve it, what the applicable statute of limitations is, and what your options are. You do not need to have reported to police, to Uber or Lyft, or to anyone else before speaking with an attorney. An attorney can also advise you on the MDL proceedings and whether your case should be filed there or in state court.
proceduralSeek Medical Care and Consider a SANE Exam
A sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) exam provides the most comprehensive forensic and medical documentation of the assault. SANE exams are available at most hospital emergency departments and rape crisis centers, typically at no cost to survivors. Evidence collected during a SANE exam can support both criminal prosecution and civil litigation. However, you do not need a SANE exam to pursue a civil claim — a civil case can succeed on other forms of evidence. If more than 120 hours have passed, a SANE exam may still be valuable for documenting physical injuries. Seek medical care for any physical injuries, and ask about HIV PEP if there is exposure risk.
proceduralThe Assault Occurs During a Rideshare Trip
You are assaulted during an Uber or Lyft trip. The driver may be the perpetrator, or another passenger in a shared ride. You have no obligation to do anything specific in the immediate aftermath — your safety and wellbeing come first. If you are able, try to reach a safe location, contact a trusted person, and preserve any evidence you can without putting yourself at risk. Take screenshots of the trip details in the app, including the driver's name, vehicle information, and trip route, before closing the app — this data may disappear or become inaccessible.
proceduralNotable Verdicts & Settlements
Doe v. Uber Technologies, Inc. (N.D. California)
Jury VerdictPlaintiff filed as Jane Doe in the Uber MDL. She was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver in San Francisco after the driver deviated from the GPS route and drove her to a remote location. Evidence produced in MDL discovery revealed the driver had prior complaints on the Uber platform that were not acted upon. Jury found Uber negligent in driver retention and awarded compensatory and punitive damages.
Doe v. Lyft, Inc. (N.D. California)
SettlementPlaintiff, filed as Jane Doe, was raped by a Lyft driver following a late-night ride in Los Angeles. Discovery revealed the driver had passed Lyft's background check despite a prior disorderly conduct charge involving a woman. The plaintiff suffered severe PTSD requiring residential psychiatric treatment and was unable to work for 18 months. Settlement reached during MDL bellwether proceedings.
Roe v. Uber Technologies, Inc. (Cook County, IL)
Jury VerdictPlaintiff was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver in Chicago during a rideshare trip from O'Hare Airport. The driver had a prior arrest for sexual assault in another state that Uber's name-based background check failed to capture. Jury found Uber negligent in its screening methodology and awarded compensatory damages of $2.9M and punitive damages of $2.5M.
Doe v. Uber Technologies, Inc. (Harris County, TX)
SettlementHouston plaintiff was assaulted by an Uber driver who had accumulated three passenger complaints in the six months prior to the assault. Uber failed to deactivate the driver despite these complaints. Plaintiff documented ongoing PTSD, depression, and inability to use rideshare services. Settlement achieved following favorable rulings in MDL discovery phase.
Doe v. Lyft, Inc. (Miami-Dade County, FL)
SettlementMiami plaintiff was sexually harassed and groped by a Lyft driver during a late-night ride. The assault was partially captured on a personal dashcam the plaintiff had installed in her vehicle after prior safety concerns. Lyft had received a prior complaint about the same driver from a different passenger. Settlement included injunctive provisions requiring Lyft to review its complaint handling protocols.
Roe v. Uber Technologies, Inc. (Fulton County, GA)
SettlementAtlanta plaintiff was assaulted by an Uber driver during a ride home from the airport. The driver's background check missed a prior sex offender registration in a neighboring state due to name-matching limitations of the vendor's database. Plaintiff, a college instructor, suffered career disruption and required two years of intensive trauma therapy.
Doe v. Lyft, Inc. (King County, WA)
SettlementSeattle plaintiff was assaulted during a Lyft pool ride when the driver took her on a detoured route after dropping off other passengers. SANE exam documented physical trauma and the platform's GPS records confirmed the unauthorized route deviation. Lyft's commercial insurance provided the settlement.
Roe v. Uber Technologies, Inc. (Maricopa County, AZ)
SettlementPhoenix plaintiff was groped by an Uber driver during a short airport trip. The driver was subsequently criminally convicted of sexual abuse. The civil settlement compensated the plaintiff for documented PTSD symptoms and ongoing therapy costs. Case settled before trial after plaintiff's attorney produced evidence that Uber had received a prior complaint about the driver.
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