Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit

What Is This Lawsuit About?

Note: This page discusses sexual assault and related trauma. If you or someone you know needs immediate support, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 (RAINN) for free, confidential help 24/7.

The Uber sexual assault lawsuit involves thousands of passengers who were sexually assaulted, harassed, groped, raped, or kidnapped by rideshare drivers while using platforms operated by Uber Technologies and Lyft Inc. Plaintiffs allege that these companies failed to implement adequate safety measures, conduct proper background checks on drivers, and respond appropriately to prior complaints — prioritizing rapid growth and profits over passenger safety.

Uber's own safety reports reveal the scale of the problem. In its 2022 US Safety Report covering 2019-2020, Uber disclosed approximately 3,824 reports of sexual assault in the five most serious categories, including 141 reports of rape. Across 2017-2020, the company documented nearly 10,000 sexual assault incidents. Despite these staggering numbers, plaintiffs argue that both Uber and Lyft failed to take meaningful corrective action.

In February 2026, the first bellwether trial in the consolidated litigation resulted in an $8.5 million jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff — a landmark result that may shape settlement negotiations for thousands of remaining cases. As of May 2025, over 2,062 cases were pending, with 179 new cases added.

These lawsuits raise important questions about corporate accountability for user safety on digital platforms, similar to the issues in the social media teen mental health lawsuit, where technology companies are also accused of prioritizing engagement over user well-being.

Who Qualifies?

You may qualify for the rideshare sexual assault lawsuit if you experienced sexual misconduct by a driver. An experienced attorney can evaluate your specific situation in a free, confidential consultation.

Rideshare Safety Failures

Uber's own US Safety Reports, published in 2019 and 2022, provide a disturbing picture of sexual assault on the platform. These reports were the first time a major rideshare company disclosed assault data publicly, and the numbers underscored what advocates had warned about for years.

Plaintiffs argue that despite knowing the magnitude of these incidents through internal data, Uber and Lyft failed to implement sufficient protections such as mandatory fingerprint-based background checks, continuous criminal monitoring, in-ride safety features, or rapid response protocols for reported assaults.

Lawsuit Timeline

The rideshare sexual assault litigation has been building for years. The February 2026 bellwether verdict represents a major milestone for the thousands of pending plaintiffs:

Settlement Amounts & Verdicts

The $8.5 million verdict returned in February 2026 in the first bellwether trial provides a significant benchmark for the remaining 2,062+ pending cases. Settlement amounts in sexual assault cases vary widely based on the severity of the assault, the lasting impact on the survivor, and the strength of the evidence.

Several factors influence individual case values, including the nature and severity of the assault, the lasting physical and psychological impact, the strength of documentation (ride records, police reports, medical records), and whether the rideshare company had prior complaints about the driver. For more information on how mass tort settlements work, see our guide on mass tort settlement amounts.

How to File a Claim

Filing a claim against a rideshare company for a sexual assault is a deeply personal decision. An experienced mass tort attorney can guide you through the process with compassion and confidentiality, at no upfront cost to you.

Named Defendants

The primary defendants in the rideshare sexual assault litigation are the two largest rideshare companies in the United States. Lawsuits allege that both companies prioritized rapid growth over passenger safety and failed to implement adequate protections against driver misconduct.

Both companies have classified their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, a distinction plaintiffs argue was used to distance the companies from liability for driver conduct while maintaining control over key aspects of the ride experience.

Evidence & Safety Reports

The litigation against rideshare companies draws on several categories of evidence:

• Uber US Safety Reports (2019, 2022): Uber's self-reported data documented 5,981 sexual assault incidents in 2017-2018 and approximately 3,824 in 2019-2020 across the five most serious NSVRC (National Sexual Violence Resource Center) categories, including non-consensual kissing, non-consensual sexual touching, attempted sexual penetration, sexual penetration, and rape.
• Inadequate Background Checks: Investigations have revealed that rideshare companies relied on name-based background checks rather than fingerprint-based screening, allowing individuals with criminal histories to pass vetting. Traditional taxi services in many jurisdictions require fingerprint-based checks.
• Internal Communications: Plaintiffs allege that internal company documents show awareness of safety shortcomings and a corporate culture that prioritized growth metrics over passenger safety investment.
• Driver Complaint Patterns: Evidence suggests that some drivers who committed assaults had prior complaints or reports filed against them but were not removed from the platform promptly.
• Bellwether Verdict (Feb 2026): The $8.5 million jury verdict in the first bellwether trial validates plaintiffs' claims and establishes that rideshare companies can be held financially liable for assaults committed by their drivers.

The evidence in these cases parallels the accountability arguments in the social media teen mental health lawsuit, where technology platforms are similarly accused of knowing their products cause harm while failing to act. For more on how evidence is used in mass tort litigation, see our guide on how mass tort lawsuits work.

Your Rights as a Survivor

If you were sexually assaulted during a rideshare trip, it is important to know your rights:

• You have the right to file a civil lawsuit against the rideshare company regardless of whether criminal charges were filed against the driver.
• You may be able to proceed anonymously. Many courts allow sexual assault survivors to file lawsuits under pseudonyms (e.g., "Jane Doe") to protect their identity.
• Forced arbitration clauses may be unenforceable. In March 2022, the federal Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act was signed into law, giving survivors the choice to pursue claims in court rather than in forced arbitration.
• You owe nothing unless you win. Attorneys handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront costs and owe nothing if your case does not succeed.
• The statute of limitations may be longer than you think. Many states have extended limitations periods for sexual assault claims. Consult an attorney to learn the deadline in your state.

For more information about the legal process, see our guides on how to join a mass tort lawsuit and how mass tort attorneys get paid.