Rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber are supposed to offer passengers safe transportation. But thousands of rideshare passengers claim they were harassed and sexually assaulted by their drivers–and these companies might be partially responsible.
Recently, a large number of sexual assault suits with similar complaints have been filed against Uber nationwide. These lawsuits claim the company should be held responsible for the sexual assaults because it failed to screen its drivers properly. The Uber sexual assault lawsuits were recently merged into a multidistrict litigation (MDL)–MDL No. 3084. The new MDL had more than 1,600 complainants across 29 states as of February 2025, and since this is an active litigation, more plaintiffs are expected to file their claims.
If you experienced harassment or sexual assault in Uber or other rideshare cabs, you may qualify to file a rideshare assault lawsuit to seek compensation.
Current Status of the Uber Sexual Harassment MDL in 2025
Uber Sexual Harassment MDL 2025 is a merger of sexual assault allegations against Uber. In October 2023, because of similar factual questions raised in claims of safety policies, the JPML (Judicial Panel of Multidistrict Litigation) merged the Uber sexual abuse lawsuits into the Uber Sexual Assault MDL. That means all future lawsuits against Uber in federal courts will be transferred to the MDL and go through the consolidated discovery process.
As of March 3, 2025, the Uber Sexual Harassment MDL had over 1,600 plaintiffs. Many of the Uber sexual assault cases focus on the allegations of inadequate background checks for drivers, insufficient safety measures, and Uber’s failure to address the claims and prevent future incidents.
On February 26, 2025, plaintiffs’ attorneys and Uber’s defense team submitted ten lawsuits that should go to trial first.
Test trials or bellwether trials are imperative in mass litigation because they offer insight into the strengths and weaknesses of each side’s arguments. If juries give favorable verdicts for complainants, Uber might be forced to negotiate fair financial settlements instead of risking more losses at the trial.
Key Allegations Against Uber in Sexual Assault Lawsuits
As of March 2025, Uber has released two United States Safety Reports. However, despite mounting concerns over the safety of its rides, the company hasn’t released a new safety report since June 2022.
Key claims in the Uber Sexual harassment lawsuit are:
- The company didn’t implement adequate safety measures, including rigorous background checks for its drivers and proper driver screening.
- The company’s leadership misrepresented the safety of its system despite knowing about thousands of sexual assault reports.
- Uber knew or should have known of potential risks to riders, such as sexual harassment, kidnapping, false imprisonment, rape, sexual assault, and stalking by Uber drivers.
- The company allowed drivers with a history of abuse to continue working
- Uber used a rapid background check process that prioritized speed over thoroughness.
- Uber didn’t require fingerprinting for driver registration.
- The company prioritized rapid growth over passenger safety.
- Uber failed to execute proper training programs or interview drivers to ensure they knew what was deemed appropriate conduct.
- Uber negligently adopted and enforced policies that may have mitigated the risk of rideshare harassment and assault on passengers.
The 2017-2018 safety report notes that 5,981 sexual harassment cases were reported to Uber Technologies, Inc. These cases included claims of attempted coercive penetration, coercive kissing, forcible sexual penetration, coercive kissing of a sexual body part, and forcible touching of a sexual body part.
Although the 2019-2020 safety report shows that the number of sexual harassment and assault incidents across the five categories had reduced by 38% to 3,824, it’s vital to note that the Coronavirus pandemic had halted nearly all operations in the 2020 fiscal year. Further, despite approximately 10,000 complaints in the last four years, it’s still alleged that Uber failed to execute adequate safety measures to protect passengers.
How Victims Can File an Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Here are four key steps you must follow to file a rideshare sexual assault lawsuit:
- Consult a personal injury lawyer. It’s vital to contact an attorney who’s familiar with sexual harassment and rideshare cases. The attorney will evaluate your claims to determine your best course of action.
- Establish eligibility. A skilled personal injury attorney will help determine if you meet the conditions to file an Uber sexual harassment lawsuit.
- Gather the necessary evidence. Before you file your rideshare assault lawsuit, gather all the relevant evidence, including incident reports, medical records, witness statements, communication with Uber or the perpetrator, screenshots of your ride, and any video or photographic evidence.
- File the Uber sexual assault lawsuit. Finally, once you’ve secured the relevant evidence, your personal injury attorney will draft and file the case with the correct court, ensuring it meets all the legal standards and deadlines.
Working with an experienced personal injury lawyer throughout the legal process can help you focus on your well-being and mental health while they handle the complicated legal hurdles.
Potential Compensation for Uber Assault Survivors
Compensation amounts in Uber sexual harassment cases will vary significantly based on the individual circumstances of the lawsuit. Higher-tier lawsuits like those involving rape are expected to receive settlement amounts ranging between $400,000 and $100,000. Settlements typically cover legal and court fees to help ease survivors’ financial burden.
Factors that will influence potential compensation in these lawsuits include the severity and nature of the assault, the strength of evidence, the effect on the victim, and the life-long impact caused by the crime.
Uber sexual assault compensation will also depend on the availability of evidence related to a survivor’s lost income, medical and therapeutic expenses, reduced quality of life and emotional distress, loss of future earning capacity, and whether they have sought legal representation.
Sometimes, punitive damages are awarded. This compensation is normally reserved for allegations involving malicious intent or gross negligence.
Statute of Limitations for Uber Sexual Assault Claims
The statute of limitations for filing an Uber sexual assault lawsuit varies considerably based on where you live. Each state has its time limit for personal injury cases, ranging from two to ten years. Twenty-two states have a “lookback” law that offers limited time for sexual assault victims to sue for past incidents. Lookback laws essentially provide one to three years from the enactment for a sexual abuse victim to file a lawsuit, even after the expiration of the regular time limit.
Victims can also file a claim against Uber even if the incident occurred in a state other than where they live; however, they must act quickly. Because the time limit to file a sexual assault allegation varies from state to state, it’s wise to seek legal advice. You may lose your ability to receive financial compensation once the time limit expires unless there’s an exception.
Uber’s Legal Defense and Response to Allegations
For many years, Uber has been under severe scrutiny for its response to sexual assault victims who allege its drivers assaulted them. The complaints have accused Uber of inadequately conducting background checks, inadequately training drivers, and adopting inadequate safety measures, including requiring drivers to install cameras in their vehicles. The company has also been accused of forcing victims of sexual harassment to sign NDAs (nondisclosure agreements) to forbid them from sharing their experiences.
However, the company has denied any wrongdoing and said it takes sexual assault reports seriously. Uber also claims it has adopted robust measures to protect riders. In 2022, the company said it had received nearly 3,800 reports of sexual harassment in the United States between 2019 and 2020, down from around 6,000 cases in 2017 and 2028.
Impact of Lawsuits on Uber’s Business and Reputation
In 2024, Uber and Lyft warned investors that mounting allegations of sexual harassment and assault in rideshare backseats may have adverse effects on the companies’ bottom lines and reputations.
In its 2024 First Quarter Report, Uber Technologies Inc. noted there had been several allegations and incidents of sexual abuse worldwide, accusing its drivers or persons impersonating its drivers of sexually harassing, assaulting, fatally injuring, or kidnapping passengers. The report adds that if more inappropriate, criminal, and other negative incidents occur because of the conduct of drivers, it could adversely affect the company’s ability to attract new platform users, and its financial and business results may be adversely impacted.
No matter the outcome of these lawsuits, litigation can hurt the company’s reputation and business.
Recent Safety Measures Implemented by Uber
Uber has introduced various security measures in response to riders’ concerns over safety. These Uber passenger safety measures aim to reduce incidents of physical and sexual assault. The 2019-2020 safety report notes that Uber Technologies Inc. has implemented a rigorous screening process and technology to boost the safety of its system.
Other Uber passenger safety measures include:
- Removal of drivers with criminal records
- Review of driver’s motor vehicle record (MVR)
- Execution of the Safety Toolkit, a section in the app where both passengers and drivers can access safety features
- Continuous monitoring for new criminal records
- Phone and address anonymization
- Driving-hours tools and speed limit alerts
- Share my trip/Follow my ride feature
- In-app emergency button to text or call 911
- Audio recording
- Rider verification
- On-trip reporting. This feature allows riders to report non-emergency safety issues during their rides discreetly.
- RideCheck: This safety feature detects unexpected routes, long stops, and possible vehicle clashes.
- Verify my ride. This safety feature allows riders to opt into getting a 4-digit PIN before each trip.
Additional Uber passenger safety measures include educational initiatives like collaborating with Rape, Abuse & Incent National Network (RAINN) and law enforcement authorities to improve preventative measures and support for rideshare assault survivors.
Comparing Uber and Lyft Sexual Assault Policies
Both rideshare companies have similar safety measures, including providing driver information to passengers, background checks, and in-app panic buttons. Passengers can verify their driver’s vehicle model, color, name, and license plate.
Also, you should already know your driver’s name through the app, so ask them their name before getting in their vehicle. If they don’t know your name, then it’s a sure sign that they’re illegitimate.
If you feel uncomfortable or threatened once you’re in the vehicle, several safety measures are in place to help you. For instance, panic buttons allow passengers to dial 911 from the ride-sharing platform and automatically share their trip information.
Uber and Lyft allow passengers to share their ride details with a trusted person to ensure they arrive as expected.
Regardless, there are fundamental differences between Uber and Lyft’s rideshare apps. You can dial 911 directly from Uber’s app, but with Lyft, you’ll need to call from the platform’s safety center.
Uber’s platform has a RideCheck feature that protects riders. The feature uses GPS sensors and data to detect unusual activity. MariaClaire.com reports Uber’s platform can detect if a driver diverts from the specified route. If the app detects something unusual, Uber operators contact the passenger to check their safety.
On the other hand, Lyft is developing a feature to check on passengers during the ride. The feature will detect if a driver has stopped before reaching the specified destination or if the ride has stopped for a prolonged period. These stops could signify that the passenger may be in danger, so Lyft operators can communicate with the passenger to determine if they’re safe or need emergency services.
Although both rideshare companies have similar safety options, Ridester reports that Uber has better safety measures. That’s because its luxury services use professional, commercially licensed drivers.
However, leaving your safety to a rideshare app–no matter how trusted it is–is unwise.
Pay attention to your surroundings and monitor your route via your maps app. Ride with a friend if possible, and don’t share personal information, including where you work.
Future Safety Measures Outlook for Rideshare Safety and Accountability
While many ridesharing platforms have built-in safety options, they still have a lot of work to do to boost the safety of women passengers and drivers. For example, they could require all drivers to use dash cameras while on duty. Drivers must remember to turn on the camera at the start of every ride. This safety measure could be helpful, mainly if sexual harassment or assault is recorded on video; however, stricter laws would need to be in place to prevent this traumatic and sensitive content from being shared or made public and to protect the survivor’s privacy.
Another imperative safety measure would require drivers to keep indoor lights on at night. This would ensure the vehicle’s interior is visible to general traffic and work with dash cameras to improve the safety of female passengers and drivers.
Further, ridesharing platforms could require drivers to provide live fingerprinting instead of private fingerprinting to ensure more thorough and detailed results. Live fingerprinting is more standardized, monitored, and regulated, offering better odds for more accurate and responsive results.
Ridesharing companies can take other safety measures to boost their passengers’ security, including requiring drivers to display the ridesharing company’s sticker at the front and back of their vehicles. The onus should be on drivers to state “I’m here for,” not ask the rider their name, limit driving hours to avoid driver fatigue and require riders to set up emergency contacts. At the moment, this is an option for both Uber and Lyft, but it’s not a mandatory requirement.
Resources and Support for Rideshare Assault Survivors
Here are support options and resources available for rideshare sexual assault survivors:
- Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline for immediate guidance and support through phone number 800.656. Hope. Help is available 24/7.
- Seek legal representation and connect with lawyers specializing in rideshare harassment and assault lawsuits.
- Report the matter directly via the rideshare app and use their dedicated support for sexual abuse incidents.
- Contact Helping Survivors. This is an organization that educates and empowers people who have been affected by sexual abuse and assault to heal.
Finding an Experienced Uber Sexual Harassment Lawyer
If you were sexually harassed, assaulted, or abused in a rideshare ride, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit against the rideshare company. Filing a sexual assault against a rideshare company is about ensuring you the resources you need to heal from the traumatic experience.
Hiring a skilled Uber sexual abuse attorney can help you understand your legal options and offer assistance with the following:
- Collecting and documenting evidence of the rideshare harassment
- Drafting and submitting an in-app report to the rideshare company
- Reporting the traumatic incident to law enforcement authorities if you haven’t done this yet
- Filing a sexual abuse lawsuit against the rideshare company on your behalf
- Handling communication with Uber, its defense lawyers, and the courts
- If necessary, an Uber sexual assault attorney can help you through the deposition process
- Negotiating with Uber’s attorneys for a possible settlement
- Filing the lawsuit as a “Jane/John Doe” or under seal to protect your identity as required by law
- Representing you in all court appearances
However, choosing and trusting a lawyer can be daunting, especially after the scarring experience. At AllConsumer.com, we partner with several top-rated attorneys nationwide who specialize in helping survivors of all manner of sexual abuse, including skilled Uber sexual assault attorneys. Learn more and sign up to stay up-to-date.
