The Reality Behind the Ride: Recent Uber and Lyft Incidents in Florida
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have become a go-to option for millions of Floridians. But beneath the convenience lies a troubling pattern: passengers, especially women, continue to report disturbing accounts of sexual assault and harassment during rides.
Below are a few cases of rideshare sexual assaults in Florida:
- 2024 in Lee County: An Uber driver was sentenced to life in prison after raping a passenger he had just dropped off. He had a long arrest history, yet passed Uber’s background check system.
- 2023 in Miami: A South Florida Uber driver was arrested after sexually assaulting a passenger mid-ride, coercing her to the front seat before pulling over and attacking her.
- Tampa Bay Trends: The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay reported that nearly 1 in 5 sexual assault cases they handled in early 2024 involved dating or rideshare apps, like Uber and Lyft.
- Ongoing Litigation: A Florida woman sued Lyft in 2024, alleging she was raped by a driver who continued the assault off-platform after ending the official ride. Genetic testing confirmed that the driver fathered her child.
These stories are just the surface of this ongoing problem in Florida and reflect a systemic, nationwide failure to protect passengers. For example:
- Lyft reported over 4,000 sexual assaults between 2017 and 2019 in its first safety transparency report. In its second safety report, Lyft received 2,651 reports of sexual assault between 2020 and 2022.
- Uber has released three safety reports, spanning from 2017 to 2022, and totaling 12,522 reports of sexual assault.
While both companies say that 99.9% of rides are safe, with tens of millions of rides happening every year, that 0.1% represents thousands of lives impacted, many right here in Florida.
How Do I Know If I Qualify to Work With a Florida Lyft Sexual Assault Lawyer?
Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual contact or behavior, especially when someone does not or cannot give clear, willing consent. It can involve physical contact or verbal threats. Even if there is no physical injury, it is still a serious violation of your rights and safety.
A Florida Uber sexual assault attorney can help if you experienced any of the following:
- Touching
- Groping
- Fondling
- Rape
- Highly suggestive or inappropriate remarks
- Unwanted kissing
- Any other unwanted or unwarranted sexual contact
Uber and Lyft market themselves as safe options for getting home after a night out. But if a driver took advantage of you while you were drunk, high, or otherwise unable to give clear consent, you still have every right to speak up.
Contact Levin Simes today online or by calling (415) 426-3000 to talk confidentially with a Florida Lyft sexual assault attorney about whether you qualify for legal action and what your next steps are.
Steps to Take After an Assault in an Uber or Lyft
If you were sexually assaulted during a rideshare trip, your safety is the priority. In the hours and days that follow, it’s common to feel disoriented, unsure, or emotionally numb. Taking the next steps might feel difficult, but they can help safeguard your health, create a record of what happened, and give you options if you choose to take legal action:
- Get medical care as soon as possible: Go to a hospital or urgent care clinic, even if you’re not sure you were physically injured. Ask about a forensic exam (sometimes called a rape kit), which can collect evidence if done within a certain window of time.
- Report the incident to the police: If you feel safe doing so, make a police report. Try to include key details like the driver’s name or description, the vehicle type and license plate, the time and location of the ride, and anything else you remember.
- Notify Uber or Lyft through their safety channels: You can report a serious safety incident directly through the app or on their websites:
- Save digital evidence: Take screenshots of your trip details, driver profile, or anything in the app that confirms the ride occurred. Save any texts or messages exchanged before, during, or after the ride. Download your ride receipt or bank statement showing the trip charge. These records can help confirm the timeline and location of the incident.
- Take photos of visible injuries: If you have bruises, scratches, or other physical signs of harm, take clear photos right away.
- Contact a Florida Uber sexual assault attorney: A lawyer can step in to handle communication with Uber or Lyft, collect additional evidence, and walk you through the legal process.
A study by Martindale-Nolo revealed that more than 9 in 10 people with legal representation secured a settlement or award, while those who went through the process alone saw success less than half the time. Hiring a lawyer is one of the important steps you can take to secure meaningful compensation.
“I have made it my mission to empower sexual assault survivors to reclaim their voices and hold corporations like Uber and Lyft accountable. My goal is to ensure every story is heard, and I am honored to work for the brave individuals stepping forward.”
- Levin Simes Attorney Laurel L. Simes
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