What Does Rideshare Sexual Assault Look Like?
Survivors often hesitate to name what happened to them. Drivers use their control of the vehicle to gradually blur boundaries, making it hard to identify exactly when a line was crossed. Ohio law does not require physical violence for conduct to constitute sexual assault. Any non-consensual sexual contact or conduct qualifies.
Columbus survivors have reported a wide range of experiences, including:
- A driver who spent the ride asking where they live alone, whether they're in a relationship, or what their plans were for the night;
- Unwanted physical contact, with hands moving somewhere they had no right to be;
- A driver who kept going past the requested stop and ignored requests to pull over;
- Messages sent through the app after the ride ended, as if the trip created an opening for something more;
- Exposure or indecent behavior while driving; or
- A driver who followed a passenger to their door or waited outside after dropping them off.
An Uber or Lyft driver who made you feel trapped, unsafe, or unable to refuse their behavior caused real harm. Your instinct that something was wrong deserves to be taken seriously.
As a trauma-informed firm, we understand why survivors question their own experience. For example, the confusion you felt during or after the ride is not a sign that what happened was minor; instead, it is a recognized response to a violation.
The impact of a rideshare assault reaches into every part of a survivor's life. Attorney Laurel Simes speaks to what that looks like and what it means to have a legal team that understands the full picture.
Where Uber and Lyft Sexual Assaults Happen in Columbus
Columbus's size and layout mean rideshare fills gaps that public transit cannot. From the bar-lined streets of Short North and the dense traffic around German Village to the constant late-night demand near Ohio State's campus, Uber and Lyft carry thousands of Columbus riders every day.
Assaults have been reported across the city's busiest areas, involving passengers in situations many Columbus riders would recognize:
- Workers heading home after late shifts, trusting a driver to get them there safely;
- Healthcare professionals leaving overnight shifts at OhioHealth or Nationwide Children's Hospital;
- Students traveling between campus housing and class near Ohio State;
- Travelers arriving late at John Glenn who had no other option but to trust an unknown driver; and
- Fans leaving concerts or Blue Jackets games at Nationwide Arena.
These situations share a common thread: passengers alone in a vehicle with a driver who holds the keys, controls the route, and decides when the ride ends.
How Many Uber and Lyft Sexual Assaults Are Reported?
Uber and Lyft have each published safety reports acknowledging thousands of sexual assault incidents annually. Uber documented 2,717 incidents in the five most serious assault categories in a single year. Lyft reported 2,651 over a two-year window. Both companies chose what to include in those reports and how to frame it.
Researchers who went further found a different picture. A 2025 study in Violence Against Women analyzed internal Uber data and calculated that the company received a sexual assault or misconduct report approximately every eight minutes between 2017 and 2022, adding up to more than 400,000 reports across five years. That figure dwarfs what Uber had disclosed publicly.
The gap between what these companies publish and what their own records contain raises serious questions about how both Uber and Lyft have chosen to account for the scope of this problem.
You don't have to figure out your next step alone. Levin Simes offers free, confidential consultations where you can ask questions, share only what you're comfortable with, and leave with a clear picture of your legal options.
Contact us at (415) 426-3000 to speak with an experienced Columbus Lyft sexual assault lawyer online whenever you're ready.
Can You Sue Uber or Lyft for Sexual Assault in Columbus?
Yes. Ohio law allows survivors to pursue civil claims against both the driver who committed the assault and the rideshare company whose failures made it possible.
Through depositions of corporate executives and analysis of internal records, Levin Simes attorneys have documented a consistent pattern of negligence at both companies:
- Both Uber and Lyft developed tools capable of identifying high-risk rides and flagged drivers with concerning complaint histories, yet neither acted with urgency;
- Drivers accumulated reports from multiple passengers before anything changed on the platform;
- Safety features marketed to riders, including emergency buttons and GPS tracking, have failed in documented incidents; and
- Neither company requires the fingerprint-based background screening that traditional taxi and transportation services use, allowing drivers with violent or sexual offense histories in other states to pass through their vetting process.
When a company knows a driver poses a risk, takes no meaningful action, and that driver goes on to assault a passenger, Ohio law supports holding the company responsible alongside the driver. Civil litigation gives survivors access to internal records, corporate communications, and complaint histories that would otherwise stay buried.
Your Legal Rights as a Columbus Rideshare Assault Survivor
Filing a civil claim comes with protections that many survivors are not aware of. You have more control over the process than you may think.
- No forced arbitration. Following sustained advocacy, both Uber and Lyft eliminated mandatory arbitration clauses for sexual assault claims. Columbus survivors can now pursue cases in Ohio courts.
- Filing anonymously. Ohio courts allow survivors to file under a pseudonym to protect their identity throughout the legal process. For LGBTQ+ survivors, this protection can also guard against the risk of being outed through public court filings.
- No requirement to report first. Reaching out to law enforcement or notifying Uber or Lyft is not a prerequisite to filing a civil case. Trip records, GPS data, and in-app communications can serve as evidence without a formal complaint on file.
Ohio Statute of Limitations for Uber & Lyft Sexual Assault Claims
Ohio law gives survivors a limited window to file a civil claim, and that window runs independently from any criminal case. Understanding your options and timeline is an important part of deciding what comes next.
- Adult survivors have two years from the date of the assault to file a civil claim. Because Ohio's window is shorter than that of many other states, speaking with a Columbus Lyft sexual assault attorney promptly helps protect your options.
- Survivors assaulted as minors have until their 30th birthday to file. The deadline does not begin running until the survivor turns 18.
What Compensation Can Uber and Lyft Sexual Assault Survivors Recover?
Financial recovery cannot undo what happened. What it can do is provide real access to care and acknowledge that a harm occurred that deserves a response. Survivors who pursue civil claims may recover compensation for:
- Therapy and ongoing mental health treatment;
- Medical costs from emergency or follow-up care;
- Income lost during recovery;
- Emotional harm, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and disruption to daily life; and
- Punitive damages in cases involving particularly egregious corporate conduct.
Beyond individual recovery, civil cases create pressure for systemic change. They require companies to produce internal records, expose patterns of negligence that might otherwise stay buried, and build a public record of corporate accountability.
Research consistently shows that survivors represented by experienced attorneys recover substantially greater compensation than those who navigate the process alone.
Why Columbus Rideshare Assault Survivors Choose Levin Simes
Our attorneys have secured confidential settlements for more than 500 rideshare sexual assault survivors nationwide, and our work has been featured by CNN, NPR, and The Guardian.
That national litigation experience comes with something equally important: personal, trauma-informed representation that puts you in control of your own case.
- Free, confidential consultations. You share only what feels right and leave with a clear understanding of your options.
- You control the pace. Nothing moves forward without your consent, and you make every key decision throughout the case.
- Your identity stays protected. We take every available legal step to keep your name out of public filings.
- Trauma-informed representation. As a women-led firm, we understand how trauma shapes survivors' processing of events and decision-making. That understanding is built into how we communicate, prepare you, and advocate on your behalf.
"We understand how painful this experience is. Our priority is to offer compassionate guidance and make sure you have the space to focus on your well-being."
— Laurel L. Simes, Founding Attorney
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