Uber and Lyft sexual assault lawsuits

What the rideshare lawsuits claim

Passengers who were sexually assaulted, raped, groped, harassed or held against their will by an Uber or Lyft driver have sued both companies. The lawsuits say Uber and Lyft knew driver-on-passenger sexual assault was a widespread problem — Lyft alone has reportedly received around 5,000 reports a year — and put fast driver recruitment and growth ahead of rider safety.

Uber faces the larger number of claims. As of March 2026, more than 3,700 plaintiffs across 30 states have joined a federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 3084) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, with 3,291 cases pending in federal court. In February 2026, a jury in the first bellwether trial awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages to one plaintiff, finding Uber liable under an "apparent agency" theory. A second bellwether trial was scheduled for April 2026.

Lyft's litigation is younger. A separate Lyft sexual assault MDL was created in February 2026, also in the Northern District of California, bringing claims from around the country together.

The main allegations

• Inadequate background checks — drivers not properly screened, including for prior sex offences
• Negligent hiring and retention — keeping drivers on after safety complaints
• Ignoring reports — failing to investigate or act on complaints about a driver
• Too few safety features — limited monitoring, emergency response and driver accountability
• Growth over safety — screening standards lowered to sign up drivers faster
• The contractor defence — using the gig-economy model to avoid responsibility for drivers

Who may be able to take part

You may be able to take part if, during or in connection with an Uber or Lyft ride:

• you were sexually assaulted or raped by the driver, including at pickup or drop-off
• you were groped or subjected to other unwanted sexual contact
• you faced sexually explicit comments, propositions or exposure
• the driver left the route, locked the doors or refused to let you out
• the driver used your details to follow, contact or stalk you afterwards
• you reported an incident and the company did not act on it

You do not need to have made a police report to ask for a review, and you can share as little as you are comfortable with. Only a lawyer can tell you whether you have a claim, and time limits differ from state to state.

What the lawsuits ask for

Claims in this litigation cover things such as medical and therapy costs, emotional distress including PTSD, pain and suffering, lost income, the lasting effect on daily life and relationships, and — where a court allows it — punitive damages. No one can promise an outcome or an amount; every case is different.

Timeline of key events

• 2023-2024 — individual lawsuits against Uber accumulate across several states
• 2024 — Uber cases are consolidated into federal MDL No. 3084 in Northern California
• December 2025 — the Uber MDL grows to 2,949 cases as bellwether preparation intensifies
• January 2026 — the first federal bellwether trial begins in Phoenix, Arizona
• February 2026 — a jury awards $8.5 million in compensatory damages, finding Uber liable on an apparent agency theory
• February 2026 — a dedicated Lyft sexual assault MDL is created in Northern California
• March 2026 — 3,291 Uber cases pending (3,700+ plaintiffs across 30 states); second bellwether trial set for April 2026; the Lyft MDL is in early stages

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