Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit
If you or someone you love was sexually assaulted in an Uber, Helping Survivors and our partnered attorneys are accepting new cases. We can help you understand your rights and legal options for seeking accountability and compensation.
Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- Thousands of survivors have filed Uber sexual assault lawsuits to seek compensation for assault, harassment, and kidnapping by Uber drivers and riders.
- In the two Uber sexual assault MDL trials that have taken place so far, two victims were awarded $8.5 million and $5,000 for assaults by Uber drivers.
- Helping Survivors can connect survivors of Uber sexual assault with an experienced rideshare sexual assault attorney from Milberg to help you understand your legal rights and options.
Who Is Eligible to File a Lawsuit Against Uber After Sexual Assault?
A survivor may be eligible to file a sexual assault claim against Uber if the case meets the following criteria:
- The assault happened during or immediately after an Uber ride.
- The perpetrator was an Uber driver or someone enabled through the Uber platform.
- You suffered physical, emotional, or psychological harm.
- The deadline imposed by your state’s statute of limitations has not yet expired.
Speak to a lawyer as soon as possible if you experienced any of the following in an Uber:
- Unwanted fondling or touching
- Attempted rape
- Rape
- Other non-consensual sexual acts, such as kissing or oral sex
- Stalking and/or harassment
Even if you believe the statute of limitations for your case may have expired, it’s crucial to speak with a lawyer to identify your options.
Helping Survivors connect victims with experienced attorneys at Milberg who take the time to understand each individual’s unique circumstances. The sexual abuse litigation team at Milberg works on a contingency basis, meaning they are paid only if they win your case.
Understanding Uber Allegations, Lawsuits, and Your Rights
In recent years, thousands of survivors have come forward with allegations of sexual assault that occurred while they were using Uber, either as passengers or drivers. After similar cases began to pile up in 2023, a panel of judges consolidated most federal cases against Uber into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) for pre-trial proceedings. As of June 2026, the MDL includes over 3,571 active cases.
Helping Survivors partner attorney Melinda Maxson emphasizes that the MDL docket grew from 3,291 cases in March 2026 to 3,437 in May 2026. This represents survivors discovering they had options. You might too.
Most of the cases in the Uber sexual assault MDL involve passengers who experienced sexual assault, harassment, or other harm at the hands of Uber drivers. The lawsuits allege these incidents occurred due to a negligent failure to implement safety measures, such as driver background checks. Survivors assert that Uber should be held accountable for the actions of its drivers.
Meet Our Trusted Legal Partners
For over 50 years, Milberg has held powerful defendants accountable — let us fight for you.
What happened to you was not your fault, it was not acceptable, and you have more options than you know.
If you were assaulted by an Uber driver, you owe it to yourself to speak with a lawyer and find out what your options are.
Melinda Maxson
Senior Council, Milberg PLLC
Helping Survivors Attorney Partner
Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit Compensation
There is no set value for a sexual assault lawsuit claim against Uber. The amount of potential compensation you may recover varies depending on the type of harm you experienced and the facts of the case. Previous Uber sexual assault lawsuits have resulted in verdict awards of up to $8.5 million, though results are not guaranteed.
Typically, an Uber sexual assault lawsuit seeks damages for:
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other non-economic damages
- Medical bills and therapy costs
- Lost wages and opportunities
- Punitive damages
A knowledgeable attorney experienced with sexual assault lawsuits against Uber can estimate the potential damages in your case. To understand the full value of your claim, schedule a free consultation with an attorney.
Steps to File an Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit
If you’ve been harmed by an Uber driver, you might be unsure of the best path forward. Take the following steps to begin the legal process and protect your rights.
- Document the Incident – Write down everything you can remember and take screenshots of any evidence of the ride.
- Speak with an Attorney – Speak with an experienced Uber sexual assault attorney as soon as possible; they can guide you through all the steps and processes.
- Sign with a Law Firm – Most law firms take Uber sexual assault cases on a contingency basis, meaning they are only compensated if they successfully resolve your case.
- File a Claim Against Uber – Your attorney will follow your state’s laws and procedures for filing a lawsuit against Uber.
- Discovery Process – This is the process of gathering evidence and information related to the harm you suffered and to what information Uber does or does not have, such as the driver’s background check results and previous incident reports.
- Respond to Court Requests – Our partnered attorneys will take care of required court appearances and filings, and you will likely not need to attend.
- Settlement Negotiations or Trial Proceedings – Once discovery is complete, both sides will meet to discuss a settlement, or the lawsuit will proceed to trial by jury.
Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit FAQs
Do I have a case?
If you are a victim of sexual assault or abuse in an Uber, you may have the option to file a lawsuit against the company to seek accountability, justice, and compensation. Survivors frequently sue Uber as a company for failing to adequately protect users from predatory drivers and riders. Speak to a lawyer as soon as possible if you experienced any of the following in an Uber:
- Unwanted fondling or touching
- Attempted rape
- Rape
- Other non-consensual sexual acts, such as kissing or oral sex
- Stalking and/or harassment
A survivor’s ability to file a sexual assault lawsuit against Uber also depends on the civil statute of limitations, or filing deadline, in the state where the harm occurred. Even if you believe the statute of limitations for your case may have expired, it’s crucial to speak with a lawyer to identify your options.
If you or someone you know has been affected, you have legal options. Helping Survivors connect victims with experienced attorneys at Milberg who take the time to understand each individual’s unique circumstances. The sexual abuse litigation team at Milberg works on a contingency basis, meaning they are paid only if they win your case.
Does the Common carrier law apply in every state?
Not automatically. Common carrier law varies by state, and courts in different jurisdictions may analyze the question differently. The ruling in North Carolina does not automatically apply in California, Texas, Florida, or elsewhere. However, as more trials proceed and courts rule on this question, the body of legal precedent grows — and the outcome in each state informs the litigation strategy in others.
If you are considering filing a claim, the common carrier question is one reason why having experienced counsel matters. An attorney can assess how courts in your state have approached Uber’s liability, what legal theories apply to your specific situation, and how recent rulings in the MDL may affect your case.
What safety measures has Uber implemented?
In response to thousands of sexual assault lawsuits against Uber and its drivers, the company recently expanded its safety guidelines and developed a Women’s Safety Forum to inform female users of additional safety features, which include:
- Phone number anonymization
- Follow my ride and share my trip
- RideCheck, a GPS data tracker
- 24/7 online safety support
- In-app Emergency Button
A 2025 exposé by the New York Times revealed that Uber’s internal teams minimized or disregarded safety features that would improve passenger experiences. The report also revealed that Uber allegedly failed to disclose the full amount of sexual assault and misconduct reports in its public safety reports, prompting further concerns about the company’s ability to keep passengers safe. In some cases, Uber was found to dispatch drivers to users even when data indicated that a safety incident was likely.
How long does an Uber sexual assault lawsuit take?
The length of the legal process in Uber sexual assault lawsuits varies widely depending on the facts and circumstances of each case. In simpler cases where responsibility is clear, settlements can often be achieved relatively quickly, sometimes within a few months.
However, in more complicated cases involving contested liability, severe injuries, or prolonged negotiations, the settlement timeline can be extended, requiring more time to reach a resolution. If the case goes to trial, the timeline will be further extended. Cases in an MDL may also take longer to resolve due to extensive pretrial proceedings and test trials.
Will I have to testify, be deposed, or share graphic details of what happened to me?
Helping Survivors partner attorneys are here to support survivors in the most empathetic, trauma-informed way possible.
Milberg Senior Council and Helping Survivors partner Melinda Maxson says, “In most MDL cases, the majority of plaintiffs will not go to trial individually, cases are resolved through the bellwether process and eventual global settlement. However, you may be asked to participate in a deposition, which is sworn testimony given outside of court in the presence of attorneys for both sides.
I will not put you in a deposition chair without extensive preparation. We spend time going over every question you’re likely to be asked, how to answer in a way that is truthful and protective, and what your rights are during that process. The judge overseeing the MDL has already prohibited Uber’s lawyers from questioning plaintiffs about their prior sexual activity unless their attorneys “open the door” — that ruling is a significant protection for survivors in this litigation. You will not be put on trial for your personal history. My job is to make sure every interaction with opposing counsel is controlled, dignified, and as minimally re-traumatizing as possible.”
How do lawyers ensure that my identity and the details of my assault remain private and don't become public record?
Helping Survivors attorney partner Melinda Maxson offers insight into how she protects rideshare sexual assault survivors:
“Protecting survivors’ identities is something I take extremely seriously, and this MDL has built-in protections we actively use. Many plaintiffs in this litigation are filing under pseudonyms, you’ll notice case names like “WHB 823” rather than full names in public filings. There are active protective orders in place governing how sensitive information is handled and disclosed.
I file motions to seal sensitive documents, use initials or pseudonyms wherever the court permits, and carefully manage what goes into the public record. I will never share your story with media, opposing parties, or anyone outside the legal team without your explicit consent.”
My driver was never criminally charged — does the lack of a criminal conviction hurt my civil case?
For survivors concerned that a driver’s lack of criminal conviction may hurt their case, Helping Survivors attorney partner Melinda Maxson is here to put some fears at ease:
“No. Criminal and civil cases operate under entirely different legal standards. In a criminal case, the prosecution must prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt” — that’s an extremely high bar, and many assaults never result in criminal charges because prosecutors don’t think they can meet it, not because the assault didn’t happen. In a civil case, we need to prove that it is “more likely than not” that the assault occurred and that Uber’s negligence contributed to it. Each plaintiff’s compensation depends on their individual case facts, not on whether there was a prior criminal proceeding.”
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