June booked an Uber to go home after a late night with friends. She got in the car, thinking she would be home in no time. But what happened instead was terrifying: in an instant, a service she had trusted for years turned into her worst nightmare. If this happened to you or someone you love, you’re not alone. A sexual assault lawyer is what you need to get the justice you deserve.
In situations like this, you must be able to regain a sense of control. Understanding your legal rights can help you do that.
A sexual assault lawyer can guide you through the complexities of a rideshare sexual assault case so that the predator is held accountable and you are compensated fairly.
If you want justice but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. You are not alone!
Understanding Rideshare Sexual Assault Cases
When you think of rideshare apps, you think of opening an app, tapping a few buttons, and getting a quiet ride from point A to B. You never think about your safety being compromised or about unwanted sexual behavior. It is important to note that this is more than just “bad behavior” and should under no circumstances be ignored or accepted.
What Qualifies as Rideshare Sexual Assault
Have you ever felt uncomfortable getting into an Uber or Lyft? Maybe the driver tried to convince you, or they made inappropriate comments. Did they refuse to let you out of the car? This falls under the umbrella of sexual assault.
Sexual assault refers to any unwanted sexual action or contact that occurs without clear, ongoing consent. If you have experienced any of the following, you were sexually assaulted:
- Groping
- Forced kissing
- Touching someone’s intimate areas without permission
- Threatening comments
- Pressuring someone sexually
- Recording a passenger without consent
If any of these things happen in an Uber, Lyft, or similar service, this is a serious violation of your safety and your rights. When it comes to determining sexual assault, consent plays an important role in deciding whether or not a crime has been committed.
For example, if the sexual behavior occurred when you were asleep or unconscious, it cannot be considered consensual because you must be conscious to provide ongoing consent.
Similarly, if you were forced to do something even if you feared for your life, it cannot be considered consensual.
How Liability Works: Uber, Lyft, and Drivers
You might think that the responsibility of the assault falls entirely on the shoulders of the driver, but that is not the case. Let’s recap.
The Driver’s Responsibility
The driver is directly responsible for sexual assault. This includes unwanted touching and other sexual acts. They will be held accountable, facing criminal charges (assault) and civil claims (damages).
In most cases, when a driver is reported, they are often arrested for assault.
Rideshare Company’s Responsibility
The company that hired the driver can also be held responsible, even if they were not involved in the assault. This is because the rideshare company is required to take necessary measures to protect riders; after all, you are paying to be safely taken from point A to point B.
An assault occurring during the ride is also a sign of negligence. In some cases, companies fail to perform proper background checks or ignore previous complaints, which can create opportunities for drivers to assault passengers.
The company may face financial liability for its failure to ensure the safety of passengers.
What Survivors Often Experience
Here are some of the common scenarios that passengers may experience:
- A driver suddenly takes a different route and isolates the passenger. The company has the ability to track the ride and should deploy safety measures to protect passengers.
- Unwanted comments or touching that escalates. Rides can be recorded for passenger safety, especially when the driver has prior negative reviews and complaints.
- Refusal to unlock the doors when the passenger wants to get out. This is a clear violation of passenger rights. Rideshare companies remind passengers to check child safety locks before the trip starts. If the lock is engaged, they should refuse the ride and report the driver.
- Exploitation of a passenger who is intoxicated, tired, or asleep. While many rideshare apps have in-app emergency tools, these are not effective if a passenger cannot report the assault because they are unconscious.
When you book a ride, you are expecting the driver to take you where you need to go — not preparing for a battle. If every time you got into a car, you were putting your life at risk, would you pay good money for it? No, of course not.
This is why the company should be held responsible. Even if the company did not directly cause the assault, it provided the driver with the opportunity to harm passengers. By understanding sexual assault and how liability works, you can take informed steps toward justice.
And if more people knew to hold rideshare companies responsible, they would have no choice but to reform their practices and prioritize passenger safety.
Supporting Survivors Through the Legal Process
Many survivors describe feeling confused and disoriented after a rideshare sexual assault. They are busy processing what happened and don’t know who to trust. Facing the rideshare company alone can feel overwhelming because of the emotional weight of the incident.
But standing up to the company is crucial. Between 2017 and 2022, Uber publicly reported a total of 12,522 sexual assault incidents. Lyft reported 4,158 sexual assaults between 2017 and 2019. This is not just a number — this is a crisis.
Taking action means pursuing justice for yourself while helping prevent more sexual assaults by encouraging rideshare companies to prioritize passenger safety over profit.
By hiring a sexual assault lawyer, you take the first step toward justice. At the Law Offices of John C. Ye, we provide compassionate legal support. We protect your healing while pursuing justice on your behalf.
We understand that survivors experience anger, numbness, and anxiety about speaking up. We stick with you through the trial, meet deadlines, and manage the different legal aspects of your case. We help you preserve evidence to build a strong case for you without re-traumatization.
Whether it’s for you or someone you love, you deserve to be heard and treated with dignity as you explore your legal rights. Contact the Law Offices of John C. Ye today to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions.
What is considered rideshare sexual assault?
Rideshare sexual assault includes any unwanted sexual behavior during a trip with Uber, Lyft, or similar services. This can be physical, like groping, or non-physical, like sexual harassment or threats.
Do I need a lawyer if the assault happened in an Uber or Lyft?
Yes. A sexual assault lawyer can help you understand your rights, explain how to report the incident, and guide you through legal options safely and privately.
Can Uber or Lyft be held responsible for a driver’s actions?
Sometimes. If the company failed to screen drivers properly or ignored previous complaints, a court may hold them partly liable under negligence laws.
How do I find a rideshare sexual assault lawyer near me?
Searching for a rideshare sexual assault attorney near me or contacting JYL directly is a good start. Look for lawyers experienced in Uber and Lyft cases with survivor-centered approaches.
What should I do immediately after a rideshare assault?
First, ensure your safety. Get to a safe location, preserve any evidence (screenshots, ride details), seek medical attention if needed, and contact a sexual assault lawyer for guidance.
Will reporting the assault to Uber or Lyft help my case?
Yes, reporting can create a record and may help protect future passengers. But this alone is not enough — legal support ensures your rights are fully protected.
