Are You Trying to Understand If What Happened in an Uber Ride Was Assault?
If something happened during or after an Uber ride that left you feeling unsafe, confused, or violated, you may be questioning whether it "counts" as assault.
Sexual assault includes many behaviors, and it is common to doubt what occurred, especially if the situation felt unclear or unexpected.
Behavior that may be or is considered sexual assault during an Uber ride includes:
- A driver touching you without permission, including hugs, brushing against your body, or groping;
- Comments of a sexual nature that made you uncomfortable or fearful;
- The driver refusing to end the ride when asked or locking the doors to prevent you from leaving;
- Pressuring you to go somewhere private or to drink alcohol;
- Trying to kiss you, expose themselves, or force sexual contact;
- Taking photos or videos of you without your consent; and
- Entering your home, hotel, or property without invitation after a ride.
Survivors sometimes blame themselves or question their instincts after something like this happens. Others struggle to find the right words for what they experienced.
You did nothing to cause this. Nothing about your behavior, your clothing, or your decision to use Uber made you responsible for someone else's actions.
Uber's own safety review listed nearly 6,000 sexual assault incidents in the United States over two years. Investigations by The New York Times found hundreds of thousands of additional reports between 2017 and 2022, revealing a widespread safety problem across all genders and backgrounds.
Phoenix is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country and relies heavily on rideshare services for daily transportation. As usage increases, so have reports of rideshare-related assaults. Survivors across the area have spoken about feeling isolated or unsure whether they will be believed.
You are not alone in these feelings. Support, privacy, and legal options are available.
Why Coming Forward Can Feel So Difficult
Survivors often find it difficult to talk about what happened, fearing disbelief, blame, or unwanted attention. Dependence on rideshare services for work, school, or daily errands can also create hesitation.
In Phoenix, where long distances and limited public transit make Uber part of daily life, speaking out can feel even more difficult.
Common barriers include:
- Feeling embarrassed or ashamed.
- Doubting personal memory or worrying that no one will listen.
- Pressure from loved ones to stay quiet.
- Cultural stigma surrounding sexual assault.
- Fear of retaliation or judgment.
- Negative past experiences with police or the legal system.
These reactions are normal and never mean you are at fault. Silence is a survival response, not a failure.
When survivors decide to come forward, they talk about a mix of emotions. Relief, fear, anger, and hope can appear all at once. Speaking out or filing a claim can bring a renewed sense of control and purpose. For many, it also creates an opportunity to protect others by holding Uber accountable and helping to prevent future assaults.
Taking that first step can open the door to:
- A greater sense of safety and self-respect.
- Emotional healing through validation and action.
- The ability to influence real change within the rideshare industry.
- Access to justice and compensation under Arizona law.
Whether or not you file a report or pursue legal action, you deserve support and accurate information about your options.
From survivors we've represented:
"I wasn't sure anyone would believe me or if what happened was 'serious enough' to matter legally. The attorneys at Levin Simes took me seriously from day one and never made me feel like I was overreacting or wasting their time."
Your Legal Rights After an Uber Rideshare Assault in Phoenix
Understanding your rights can help you regain a sense of control after an assault. Arizona law gives survivors several ways to seek justice and compensation, and these options remain available whether or not a criminal case is filed.
Civil Claims Against Uber and Drivers
Survivors in Phoenix can file civil lawsuits against both the driver and Uber when the company fails to screen, train, or monitor drivers, ignores complaints, or allows unsafe individuals to keep working.
Uber once used arbitration clauses that prevented survivors from filing lawsuits. After public pressure and advocacy, the company ended that policy in 2018, allowing survivors to pursue accountability through the court system.
Civil cases move separately from criminal cases. You don't need a police report or conviction to move forward, and you control each step of the process.
Statute of Limitations in Phoenix
Survivors generally have two years from the date of the assault to file a civil claim, though trauma or delayed awareness can extend that deadline.
Speaking with a Phoenix Uber sexual assault attorney helps you understand how timing rules apply to your situation and what options are open to you.
Compensation Available to Survivors
Legal action can help survivors recover losses connected to the assault, such as:
- Therapy and counseling expenses,
- Medical treatment and ongoing care,
- Lost income from missed work,
- Emotional distress and trauma-related suffering, and
- Loss of enjoyment and quality of life.
Financial recovery cannot erase the harm, but it can provide resources for care and safety as you move forward.
Talking With a Phoenix Uber Sexual Assault Lawyer
The decision to seek legal help is entirely yours. Meeting with a Phoenix attorney gives you the chance to learn about your rights and discuss what next steps feel right for you.
Survivors who work with experienced legal teams generally receive higher compensation than those who try to manage the process on their own.
Just as important, having a Phoenix Uber sexual assault lawyer beside you means you are not the only one asking hard questions. Your attorney will look closely at what Uber knew, when it knew it, and what actions it failed to take to protect riders.
Questions about your rights? Contact Levin Simes for a free consultation at (415) 426-3000. Our attorneys listen carefully and explain all available options to survivors in Phoenix.
What We've Learned About Uber's Safety Failures
Years of representing survivors and reviewing Uber's internal data reveal a pattern of safety failures that put passengers at risk. Survivors in Phoenix and nationwide have reported similar experiences of neglect, dismissal, and broken safeguards.
Inadequate Background Checks
Uber's screening process has repeatedly failed to identify drivers with serious criminal histories. Reports and lawsuits show that individuals with violent offenses, sexual misconduct allegations, or false identities were approved to work.
In a city like Phoenix, where many residents relocate from other states, incomplete background checks make these gaps even more dangerous.
Ignored Complaints and Warning Signs
Riders have reported that Uber's system left them unheard, with complaints ignored while unsafe drivers continued to operate. The company's response process often feels impersonal, treating safety issues as customer service problems instead of emergencies.
Safety Features That Do Not Work as Promised
Uber's app includes safety tools like a panic button and GPS tracking, but survivors report that these sometimes fail to connect to local 911 services or record accurate trip data.
Missed Opportunities to Prevent Future Assaults
Internal reports show that Uber had the ability to identify high-risk rides through data analysis years ago, but did not fully implement those systems. Expansion and profit goals took priority over safety improvements.
"Recent reporting has highlighted that Uber receives a report of sexual assault or sexual misconduct in the United States almost every eight minutes...from 2017 to 2022, a total of 400,181 Uber trips resulted in such reports."
— U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability (September 2025), cited by The New York Times
These failures are the subject of lawsuits seeking accountability and lasting change to protect future passengers.
Leading the Fight for Uber Assault Survivors in Phoenix and Across the Nation
Survivors in Phoenix are part of a nationwide effort to hold Uber accountable for passenger safety. Cases filed here contribute to a broader push that is changing how the company responds to sexual assault and driver misconduct.
Levin Simes serves as lead counsel in the consolidated rideshare assault litigation, representing survivors whose cases expose years of safety failures and ignored warnings. Hundreds have reached justice through settlements, and others continue to push for stronger protections and safer rideshare practices.
Featured by CNN, Bloomberg, NPR, and The Guardian, Levin Simes' leadership has raised awareness and encouraged survivors nationwide to come forward.
For survivors in Phoenix, this means direct access to attorneys shaping national rideshare safety cases. Our firm has handled claims involving repeat offenders, poor background checks, and broken safety features. Each case moves the system toward greater accountability for drivers and the companies that enable them.
Speaking up strengthens that progress. Taking action is both a step toward justice and a contribution to safer rideshare travel for everyone.
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