Uber Sexual Assault Attorney in California

Uber Sexual Assault Statistics and Trends in California

Thousands of riders, the majority of them women, have reported being sexually assaulted by drivers during rides. While Uber’s own safety reports provide some insight into the problem, they only capture a fraction of what is actually happening. Most sexual assaults are never reported, meaning the true scope of harm is far greater than the numbers suggest.

In its most recent U.S. Safety Report, Uber disclosed 2,717 incidents of sexual assault in 2021–2022 alone. These incidents are broken down into five categories, as defined by Uber:

• Non-consensual touching of a sexual body part: 1,401 reports
• Non-consensual sexual penetration: 355 reports
• Attempted non-consensual sexual penetration: 285 reports
• Non-consensual kissing of a sexual body part: 338 reports
• Non-consensual kissing of a non-sexual body part: 338 reports

With its high concentration of rideshare users in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Oakland, California has seen a disproportionate number of these assaults. It’s no surprise that our state has become a focal point in the legal effort to hold Uber accountable. 

Survivors across the state are stepping forward, and the legal system is beginning to respond. The fight for accountability is active, growing, and far from over.

As of July 2025, over 2,300 sexual assault survivors have joined the federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 3084) against Uber in California. An MDL is a legal process that allows similar cases from across the country to be grouped together in one federal court. This helps ensure consistency in rulings, reduces delays, and allows survivors' voices to be heard more efficiently and powerfully.

Uber fought hard to prevent this consolidation, arguing that a clause buried in its Terms of Service should force each survivor to pursue their case alone. The company claimed this would benefit survivors, but in reality, it was an attempt to silence patterns of wrongdoing and avoid turning over internal evidence through a process called discovery. 

A court rejected Uber’s argument, ruling that federal law allows these cases to move forward together, even if Uber’s contract tried to say otherwise. 

At the same time, in California state court, a Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding (JCCP) is also underway, with more than 6,000 active cases related to Uber sexual assaults. A JCCP, like an MDL, allows courts to handle complex, high-volume cases more effectively.

California Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit: How Uber Allegedly Failed to Protect Riders

When a sexual assault occurs during an Uber ride, the person who commits the act is the immediate perpetrator. But the legal responsibility doesn’t end there.

Under the law, companies like Uber have what’s known as a duty of care to the people who use their platform. This means they are legally obligated to take reasonable steps to keep riders safe. When a company fails in that duty, and someone gets hurt as a result, they can and should be held liable.

Lawsuits against Uber focus on several key areas where we believe the company’s negligence contributed to these assaults:

• Negligent Hiring: Uber has a responsibility to thoroughly screen its drivers before allowing them to pick up passengers. Uber’s background checks have come under fire, with questions about whether they were updated regularly and if clear warning signs were missed or ignored. Despite public claims about driver screening, we have seen cases where drivers with criminal histories were approved.
• Negligent Retention: Screening at the time of hire is only one part of the equation. If Uber becomes aware of complaints, red flags, or reports of misconduct involving a driver, it must act swiftly. Lawsuits argue that Uber allowed dangerous drivers to remain on the platform, putting more riders at risk.
• Failure to Implement Basic Safety Measures: Survivors and advocates have long called for in-vehicle safety improvements, such as dash cams, biometric driver verification, and easier in-app reporting tools. Uber was slow to act, even as assault reports mounted.
• Misleading Marketing and Withholding Critical Information: Lawsuits allege the company’s marketing created a false sense of security, particularly when internal reports showed a clear pattern of assaults that wasn’t shared with the public.‍
• Inadequate Response to Sexual Assault Reports: Uber’s internal responses to sexual assaults have reportedly fallen short. In fact, the company was penalized by the California Public Utilities Commission for failing to properly report and respond to sexual assault and harassment incidents, revealing a troubling pattern of ignoring or mishandling survivor complaints.

Since 2014, Uber has charged riders a mandatory $1 “safe rides fee,” intended to support safety improvements like background checks, driver training, and enhanced app features. However, questions have been raised about whether these funds were fully directed toward improving rider safety.

Reports show the fee generated nearly $500 million, but much of that was treated as additional revenue. Uber has been forced to pay millions in settlements and rename the fee to a “booking fee,” no longer promising safety but simply covering company costs.

If you or someone you love experienced harm while using Uber, you deserve to explore your legal options. Reach out to Levin Simes today online or by calling (415) 426-3000.

What a California Uber Sexual Assault Lawyer Will Do for You

At Levin Simes, we understand the unique challenges survivors face, and we handle the legal heavy lifting so you can focus on your healing.

Here's a detailed look at the specific steps an Uber sexual assault attorney in California will take for your case: 

• Immediate Support, Beyond Legalities: We listen carefully, respect your choices, and connect you with trauma-informed resources.
• Thorough Evidence Collection: We secure critical Uber trip data (GPS logs, timestamps, driver identification, communication records, payment information), medical records, police reports, and other proof often out of reach to individuals.
• Investigation Beyond the Driver: We delve into Uber's corporate practices, driver screening processes, and incident response protocols to uncover systemic failures that contributed to your assault. This often involves seeking information on the driver's full history, including any prior complaints or red flags that Uber may have overlooked or mishandled. 
• Legal Strategy Built on California Law: We apply the strongest legal theories to fight for your rights, including negligence and fraud claims.
• Aggressive Negotiation: We are fierce negotiators who will leverage all gathered evidence and legal arguments to secure the maximum possible compensation for your injuries and suffering.
• Trial Readiness: While we strive for beneficial settlements, we are also trial lawyers through and through. If Uber is unwilling to offer a fair settlement, we are fully prepared and unafraid to take your case to trial. 
• Privacy Protection: We safeguard your identity throughout the process, using pseudonyms and other legal tools when possible.
• No Fees Unless We Win: You pay nothing upfront or out of pocket unless we secure a recovery for you.

A recent survey found that more than 90% of survivors with legal representation received compensation, compared to just 50% of those who handled their claims alone. Even more striking: survivors with lawyers recovered, on average, over four times the amount of those without.

Taking on a company like Uber isn’t something you should have to do alone. At Levin Simes, we’re not just any law firm. We are lead counsel in the national Uber sexual assault litigation, with the experience, resources, and resolve to go up against corporate giants like Uber.

What Compensation Can Mean After a California Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit

At Levin Simes, we understand that no amount of money can undo what happened. But compensation can help ease the burden of the trauma by supporting your medical care, your healing process, and your future stability. 

Survivors often carry invisible injuries, and the law recognizes both the physical and emotional toll of what you have endured.

Below is an overview of the types of financial support a California Uber sexual assault attorney may be able to recover for you: 

• Medical Expenses: This includes all past and future costs associated with emergency room visits, hospital stays, doctor appointments, prescription medications, and physical therapy if needed.
• Mental Health Treatment: The psychological impact of sexual assault is often profound and long-lasting. Compensation can cover the costs of counseling, psychotherapy, psychiatric care, and any related medications you may need for conditions like PTSD, anxiety, or depression.
• Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity: If the trauma of the assault has made you unable to work, or if your ability to earn a living in the future has been diminished, you can seek compensation for lost income. This includes both wages you've already lost and potential future earnings.
• Pain and Suffering: This includes both physical pain and emotional suffering, such as fear, panic, nightmares, shame, or persistent trauma.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Many survivors find it difficult to return to activities, relationships, or routines they once loved. 
• Loss of Consortium: If the assault has disrupted your relationship with a spouse or partner, especially in terms of emotional closeness or intimacy, damages may extend to their loss as well.