Rideshare Assaults in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s reliance on rideshare services continues to grow. From South Philly to the Northeast, tens of thousands of daily rides begin and end across the city.
Most passengers travel safely, yet survivors continue to come forward about assaults that occurred in vehicles operated by Uber and Lyft drivers.
Reports have emerged across many neighborhoods:
- Center City and Rittenhouse Square: incidents involving passengers leaving restaurants or nightlife.
- University City: survivors include healthcare staff and students returning home late.
- Temple University area: assaults reported during campus commutes.
- South Street and Passyunk Avenue: cases following bars or concerts.
- Philadelphia International Airport: assaults involving travelers and hotel transfers.
Survivors have described groping, coercion, threats, and other unwanted sexual contact during rides arranged through these platforms. Healthcare workers heading home from overnight shifts, students returning to dorms, and hospitality employees leaving work late at night have reported similar experiences like being trapped in a moving car, unable to leave or call for help.
A 2025 study published in Violence Against Women, “Every Eight Minutes: The Crisis of Sexual Assault in Uber Rides,” found that between 2017 and 2022, Uber received reports of sexual assault or misconduct nearly every eight minutes, totaling more than 400,000 incidents in five years. These figures exclude Lyft and unreported assaults, meaning the true number is likely higher.
Investigations and lawsuits have since exposed how rideshare companies failed to respond to these risks—overlooking complaints, neglecting driver background checks, and allowing high-risk drivers to stay on the road.
At Levin Simes, we review driver records, trip data, and internal communications to document how these failures occur and to hold companies accountable for ignoring repeated warnings.
In Philadelphia, survivors often face additional challenges: uncertainty about where to report, fear of retaliation from drivers who still have their contact information, and the risk of losing digital evidence. We work quickly to secure trip logs, location data, and in-app messages before they disappear. Preserving this material early is often essential to building a case.
These patterns reveal a deeper breakdown in rider safety. The background checks promoted by rideshare companies are inconsistent and frequently rely on outdated or incomplete databases. When a driver accused of assault remains on the platform, the company continues to profit while passengers remain exposed to preventable harm.
If a rideshare driver assaulted you, help is available.Speak privately with a trauma-informed Philadelphia Lyft sexual assault attorney who understands rideshare assault cases. Call (415) 426-3000 or reach out through our secure contact form.
Trauma-Informed Legal Support for Rideshare Assault Survivors
Levin Simes attorneys practice trauma-informed law—an approach that recognizes the impact of trauma on communication and decision-making. Each step of the case is paced according to the survivor’s comfort.
Meetings can happen by phone, video, or in person. Survivors can choose to have a support person present. Our attorneys handle contact with Uber, Lyft, and their insurers directly so survivors never need to engage with those parties.
We focus on:
- Asking only what is necessary.
- Explaining each step before taking it.
- Keeping communication consistent and predictable.
- Allowing time between conversations when needed.
“Every survivor deserves a process that respects their pace and safety. Our job is to support each person carefully and accurately, keeping them informed through every stage.”
— Laurel Simes, Founding Partner of Levin Simes
The legal process can move slowly, but information never should. Survivors receive updates when filings occur and are consulted before any documents are shared publicly. Discovery questions are reviewed in advance to prevent exposure to unnecessary detail. Each action is designed to maintain control, privacy, and dignity for you.
Legal Options With a Philadelphia Uber Sexual Assault Lawyer
Civil law allows survivors to take action against individuals or companies whose systems and decisions caused or enabled harm. These cases are independent of any criminal prosecution and can move forward even without police involvement.
Common claims in rideshare assault cases include:
- Negligent hiring, training, or supervision of drivers,
- Failure to remove drivers after reports of misconduct,
- Inadequate or misleading safety policies, and
- Retaliation or data suppression after survivor complaints.
Evidence in these cases often includes trip logs, GPS routes, complaint histories, and prior reports involving the same driver. This documentation helps establish patterns of negligence and shows when safety warnings were ignored.
In Pennsylvania, adult survivors of sexual assault generally have two years from the date of the incident to file a civil lawsuit. For survivors who were minors at the time of the assault, state law extends the deadline, allowing claims to be filed up to the survivor’s 55th birthday.
Civil claims can proceed regardless of whether criminal charges were filed or a conviction occurred. Survivors do not need to report to police or notify Uber or Lyft before pursuing a civil case.
A Philadelphia Uber sexual assault lawyer can secure trip data, in-app messages, and other digital records directly through the legal process. These materials can be used to show how company oversight failed or how prior complaints were mishandled.
In Philadelphia, these cases also help reveal systemic issues specific to the city, such as weak coordination between rideshare companies and local regulators or continued gaps in driver background checks despite public assurances of safety reforms.
Research shows that survivors who work with an experienced rideshare assault lawyer often gain not only compensation but also support for therapy, housing stability, and ongoing care. Civil cases provide a structured way to recover while holding corporations accountable for the harm their practices have allowed.
Support and Safety During Your Case
Safety and privacy are at the center of every client relationship. Survivors decide when to talk, what to share, and whether to continue. No details are disclosed without permission.
Our legal team coordinates with local advocacy and health services to connect survivors with counseling, medical care, and trauma recovery support.
Clients often describe a sense of relief once they realize their case will move forward at a manageable pace. Our attorneys stay in contact without overwhelming clients, ensuring each update comes with context and explanation. Survivors know what to expect and when.
Civil cases can take months or longer, but survivors have full visibility along the way. Every draft, filing, and request is reviewed with the client before submission. The focus is always on safety, privacy, and informed choice.
Accountability Through a Philadelphia Lyft Sexual Assault Lawyer
Civil litigation can lead to accountability far beyond a single case. Survivors often uncover company records showing that drivers accused of sexual assault were flagged multiple times but kept working.
In Philadelphia cases, these findings have exposed serious failures in how companies handle background checks, review complaints, and communicate with law enforcement. Levin Simes uses this information to push for stronger safety protocols and new review standards.
Through discovery, survivors can see what the rideshare companies knew and when they knew it. That transparency helps rebuild trust and can help others avoid similar harm. Civil claims also pressure corporations like Uber and Lyft to release data about complaint volumes and safety audits—information that the public rarely sees.
Some survivors say that the process of seeing their experiences validated on record mattered more than any settlement. Civil action can reshape company policies and lead to internal reviews, driver monitoring improvements, and safer app design features.
For Philadelphia Uber and Lyft assault survivors, each successful case contributes to long-term change, encouraging local oversight and stronger protection for passengers who depend on rideshare services every day.
.avif)
.webp)
