Rideshare Sexual Assault

Rideshare sexual assault refers to any type of sexual assault that happens during or shortly after a rideshare service. This includes rape, nonconsensual touching, aggressive flirting, threats and other sexual misconduct. While the majority of rideshare sexual assault cases involve drivers as the aggressors, passengers can also be the ones assaulting drivers or other passengers.

Use of rideshare apps is not slowing down anytime soon. In 2025, approximately 1.89 billion people used rideshare apps worldwide, and that number is expected to increase every year. As ridesharing apps continue to thrive, more people will continue to use them. This may lead to more dangerous situations.

Dangerous rideshare situations

While rideshare services are popular and convenient, they may be dangerous. Riding with a stranger is always a risk, but even more so when the circumstances are not ideal. You may be riding with a stranger at night, alone, or in an unfamiliar area. These situations can become more dangerous if a passenger is intoxicated or impaired in some way.
Individuals who have been in these situations know how scary it can be, which is why it’s important to know what to do if this happens to you. 

There are important steps survivors should follow if they’ve experienced rideshare sexual assault.

• Get to safety: Immediately get to a safe location to ensure no further harm can occur.
• Seek medical attention: Not only is this important for your well-being but it can also help you in the future when documentation of the alleged incident is requested.
• Preserve any evidence: Any clothing or other items involved in the assault should be preserved for police evaluation.
• Report the assault: Contact local law enforcement to report the assault as soon as possible. If you are not ready to speak with law enforcement, talk with someone you trust, a friend, family, or a therapist.
• Collect important details: Save your ride receipt. Take screenshots of important information on the rideshare app: car details, license plates and personal information. Keep any pictures and videos you have on your phone related to the alleged incident.

The more evidence you collect and save in the moment, the better chance you’ll have at filing a claim and seeking justice for the harms you experienced.

Survivors of sexual assault have legal rights that they should be aware of. The Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act of 2016 outlines these rights:

• Right to a medical exam (rape kit/SANE Exam): The bill states, “The right not to be prevented from, or charged for, receiving a medical forensic examination.”
• Right to saved evidence: The bill states, “The right to have a sexual assault, evidence collection kit or its probative contents preserved, without charge, for the duration of the maximum applicable, statute of limitations or 20 years, whichever is shorter.”
• Right to have a sexual assault advocate: The bill states, “The availability of a sexual assault advocate.”

Beyond these legal rights, survivors may also pursue legal action if they choose.

Who can be held liable?

Rideshare sexual assault lawsuits can hold different parties civilly liable for the alleged incident. This includes the person who assaulted the driver and the rideshare company. 

Companies like Uber and Lyft may be held liable for corporate negligence if:

• They were negligent during hiring or background checks.
• They failed to respond to prior reports of sexual assault.
• Their safety protocols and policies are inadequate.

Uber has been fighting these sexual assault claims by stating that Uber drivers are independent contractors. By making this distinction, Uber says they are not liable for the actions of the contractor, even if the accused individual was driving for Uber when the incident occurred. The argument regarding liability will continue as more sexual assault lawsuits are filed against Uber and Lyft drivers.

Pursuing a sexual abuse lawsuit after a rideshare-related assault is an important step toward accountability and potential financial recovery. Lawsuits may help cover medical expenses, lost wages, therapy bills, pain and suffering and emotional distress.

Filing a complaint is the start of the legal process. This complaint should explain the sexual assault, who is being held liable and what types of damages the survivor is pursuing. Sexual abuse attorneys can help confirm it includes all the information needed to pursue a lawsuit.

After the sexual assault lawsuit is filed, the defendant is made aware of the lawsuit and is allowed to respond to it. Defendants will typically respond by filing an answer or a motion to dismiss within a specific timeframe.

Joining Uber and Lyft sexual assault MDLs

Sexual assault survivors are also joining multidistrict litigation (MDL) for Uber and Lyft. An MDL handles many cases (called mass torts) in a streamlined way. This type of litigation consolidates cases into one court with each lawsuit remaining separate. One of the benefits of MDLs is they allow similarly injured plaintiffs to join a lawsuit, even after the initial cases have been filed. These are some examples:

• On October 4, 2023, In re: Uber Technologies, Inc., Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation, MDL No. 3084 was established.
• On February 2, 2026, In re: Lyft, Inc. Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation, MDL No. 3171 was established.

Survivors can file an individual lawsuit that may be transferred into the appropriate rideshare sexual assault MDL. From there, bellwether trials will be scheduled, which could lead to potential settlements for MDL participants.

Motley Rice attorneys always have our clients’ best interests at heart, especially when it comes to sensitive and traumatic cases, like sexual assault, that are not easy to navigate or discuss. We collaborate with our clients utilizing a trauma-informed approach to bring their stories to light and hold the appropriate parties accountable for their actions.

Our attorneys have advocated for sexual abuse survivors, including cases involving:

• The Boy Scouts of America
• The Catholic Church
• The LDS Church
• School teachers

Read more on our sexual assault litigation experience.