Uber Sexual Assault, Harassment, and Rape

You are not alone. Learn how women are taking action.

When Do You Need an Uber Sexual Assault Lawyer?

Survivors of sexual assault have options. We are attorneys that can help them through the ordeal, both legally and personally. We can not only protect their rights, but also help ensure the assaulter is never allowed to drive or ride in an Uber again.

If you want to review the facts of an incident with an attorney, free of charge, contact us for a private consultation. Call, email, or chat with us today at (415) 426-3000.

What Are Uber Mediation and Arbitration?

Uber announced they would drop terms of service restricting survivors of sexual assault from filing lawsuits. Previously, the firms used these terms to force injured women to settle cases in mandatory arbitration.

Uber’s Chief Legal Officer Tony West wrote they “will no longer require mandatory arbitration for individual claims of sexual assault or sexual harassment by Uber riders, drivers or employees.”

Survivors now have the ability to choose for themselves. Levin Simes Abrams can protect your name and ensure any complaint filed in a lawsuit uses an anonymous name, so the facts of your case do not become public.

While some women, such as our client and rape survivor advocate Alison Turkos, want to discuss their case publicly to raise awareness, others wish the matter to remain private. We are excited to work with advocates like Alison, leading the way in fighting for all assaulted women, but ultimately how your case is handled is up to you.

Contact us online today or call us at (415) 426-3000 to confidentially discuss your legal options. Levin Simes Abrams represents hundreds of survivors of sexual assault, and we are here for you.

How Can You Speak to an Uber Sexual Assault Lawyer?

Contact us if you were sexually assaulted by an Uber driver. Women across the country are standing up to say enough is enough.

Levin Simes Abrams has and will continue to stay at the forefront of rideshare litigation. Call (415) 426-3000 or email [email protected] to speak with us.

How Much Can You Sue Uber For?

There is no set amount for a damages award or settlement amount in an Uber sexual assault claim. Each case is different, and damages will depend on various factors. However, filing an Uber sexual assault lawsuit can help you recover many costs and losses, which can include:

Costs of medical treatment
Ongoing rehablititation and therapy expenses
Lost wages due to missing work

Loss of the ability to generate wages in the future
Pain and suffering damages
Other expenses caused by the assault

If you or a loved one you know were sexually assaulted in connection with an Uber ride, you have every right to seek justice. Filing a claim can help you obtain the financial recompense needed for your recovery.

A lawsuit can also help expose and uncover instances of abuse, and may prevent other assaults in the future. Don’t hesitate to contact us at (415) 426-3000 to learn your legal rights and options.

Uber Safety Report: How many Sexual Assault Cases Has Uber Had?

Uber Sexual Assault Lawyer How common is sexual assault in Uber?

There were 5,981 sexual assault cases reported to Uber in 2017-2018. While both drivers and passengers were assaulted, the majority of survivors were passengers assaulted by drivers.

The total number of assaults in 2018 was similar to the number in 2017, around 3,000 each year. Cases of rape and attempted rape were similar both years.

Uber volunteers in their safety report that because they can only tally what is reported to them, the actual number of sexual assaults may be much greater than the 6,000 described.

The 2017-2018 Uber Safety report broke down sexual assault into sub-categories:

Non-consensual sexual penetration
Attempted Non-consensual sexual penetration
Non-consensual kissing of sexual body part
Non-consensual touching of a sexual body part
Non-consensual kissing of a non-sexual body part

The report has categorized these assaults in such a way as to not include all categories of crimes.

Sexual Harassment, as defined by Uber for categorizations:


Staring or Leering	Someone gazes at a user in an unpleasant, uncomfortable, prolonged, or sexual manner. Staring or leering is constant and unwavering. This includes viewing both sexual and non-sexual body parts.
Comments or Gestures, Asking Personal Questions	Someone asks specific, probing, and personal questions of the user. This would include questions about the user’s personal life, home address, contact information (e.g., phone, email, social media), romantic or sexual preferences.
Comments or Gestures, Comments About Appearance	Someone makes uncomfortable comments on the user’s appearance. This includes both disparaging and complimentary comments.
Comments or Gestures, Flirting	Someone makes verbally suggestive comments to the user about engaging in romantic or non-romantic activities. This also includes non-verbal, suggestive flirting, including becoming physically close to a person in a way the user felt was sexual or flirtatious.
Comments or Gestures, Explicit Gestures	Someone made sexually suggestive gestures at the user.
Comments or Gestures, Explicit Comments	Someone described or represented sexual activity or body parts in a graphic fashion.
Displaying Indecent Material	Indecent material, including pornography or other sexual images, was seen by the user.
Indecent Photography/Video Without Consent	Someone has taken, without consent, an inappropriate photograph of a user’s sexual body part (e.g., down shirt, up skirt, etc.).
Soliciting a Sexual Act	Someone directly asks for a kiss, displays of nudity, sex, or contact with a sexual body part (breast, buttock, genitals). This could be a direct solicitation or a solicitation in exchange for money or favors.
Masturbation/Indecent Exposure	Someone has exposed genitalia and/or is engaging in sexual acts in presence of a user. This excludes public urination where no sexual body part (buttock, penis, breast) was exposed.
Verbal Threat of Sexual Assault	Someone directed verbal explicit/direct threats of sexual violence at a user.

Sexual Assault, as defined by Uber for categorizations:


Attempted Touching of a Non-Sexual Body Part	Someone attempted to touch, but did not come into contact with, any non-sexual body part (hand, leg, thigh) of the user, and the user perceived the attempt to be sexual.
Attempted Kissing of a Non-Sexual Body Part	Someone attempted to kiss, lick, or bite, but did not come into contact with, any non-sexual body part (hand, leg, thigh) of the user, and the user perceived the attempt to be sexual.
Attempted Touching of a Sexual Body Part	Someone attempted to touch, but did not come into contact with, any sexual body part (mouth, breast(s), buttock(s), or genitalia) of the user, and the user perceived the attempt to be sexual.
Attempted Kissing of a Sexual Body Part	Someone attempted to kiss, lick, or bite, but did not come into contact with the mouth, breast(s), or buttock(s) of the user, and the user perceived the attempt to be sexual.
Non-Consensual Touching of a Non-Sexual Body Part	Without explicit consent from the user, someone touched or forced a touch on any non-sexual body part (hand, leg, thigh) of the user
Non-Consensual Kissing of a Non-Sexual Body Part	Without consent from the user, someone kissed, licked, or bit, or forced a kiss, lick, or bite on any non-sexual body part (hand, leg, thigh) of the user
Attempted Non-Consensual Sexual Penetration	Without explicit consent from a user, someone attempted to penetrate the vagina or anus of a user with any body part or object. Any attempted removal of another person’s clothing to attempt to access a sexual body part will be classified as Attempted Non-Consensual Sexual Penetration. This also includes attempted penetration of the user’s mouth with a sexual organ or sexual body part; however, it excludes kissing with tongue or attempts to kiss with tongue.
Non-Consensual Touching of a Sexual Body Part	Without explicit consent from the user, someone touched or forced a touch on any sexual body part (breast, genitalia, mouth, buttocks) of the user.
Non-Consensual Kissing of a Sexual Body Part	Without consent from the user, someone kissed or forced a kiss on either the breast or buttocks of the user. This would include kissing on the lips or kissing while using tongue.
Non-Consensual Sexual Penetration	Without explicit consent from a user, someone penetrated, no matter how slight, the vagina or anus of a user with any body part or object. This includes penetration of the user’s mouth with a sexual organ or sexual body part. This excludes kissing with tongue.

These categories and descriptions are how Uber categorized assaults in their report, Levin Simes Abrams does not use this system to categorize assaults. We have multiple disagreements with this structure, but this is how the data was structured and released. If you are a survivor and wish to discuss with us, please reach out to us at 415-426-3000 or [email protected].

What If I Was Sexually Harassed in an Uber?

Sexual harassment is wrong and illegal. You do not have to be physically touched to be the survivor of a crime, and other crimes beyond sexual assault and rape can occur in an Uber ride. These include false imprisonment and kidnapping.

Our firm represents survivors of rape, sexual assault, physical assault, sexual harassment, attempted kidnapping and other crimes. Contact us and we will help you get through it.

Levin Simes Abrams: Women in Law

Levin Simes Abrams is a majority female managed and majority female staffed law firm. Contact us for a free and private legal consultation.

We have been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, Vice, Buzzfeed, Bloomberg, NBC News, The Verge, TechCrunch, Huffington Post, Business Insider, CBS News, CBS This Morning, and Good Morning America. Levin Simes Abrams leads the nation in representing survivors of Uber and Lyft sexual assault. Contact our Lyft and Uber sexual assault lawyers today for a completely private and free consult.

Uber and Lyft’s negligent hiring practices and incomplete background checks on drivers have created opportunity for sexual and/or physical assault on passengers.

National Uber Assault Lawyers

As seen in CNN, Bloomberg, Vice, Good Morning America, CBS News, Buzzfeed, NPR, NBC, The Verge, TechCrunch, Axios, The Guardian, Business Insider, Reuters, and the Huffington Post, Levin Simes Abrams is leading the fight nationally on behalf of Uber assault survivors.

Levin Simes Abrams represents hundreds of survivors of rideshare sexual assault, rideshare sexual, harassment, rideshare physical assault along with our work for other forms of sexual abuse. Our lawyers have experience in harassment, assault, and Uber rape cases.

Uber History

Ridesharing platforms including Uber and Lyft have become a regular part of our urban environment. California legalized rideshare services in 2013; the use of such services remains a legal gray area since these companies are not subject to the same strict standards as their “common carrier” (e.g. taxi cab) counterparts.

Since their legalization in 2013, rideshare companies have been embroiled in legal battle after legal battle from car accidents due to distracted drivers using apps to sexual assaults on passengers.

Uber Driver Background Checks

Uber’s negligent hiring practices and insufficient background checks on drivers have created opportunity for sexual and physical assault, particularly on female passengers. Our team of lawyers will protect the identity of any individual who has experienced such an event and vigorously advocate to get them just compensation for what they endured.

Uber settled a lawsuit filed by the District Attorneys of Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2015 for $25 million, for what the government asserted was false and misleading statements regarding safety. They are now adding features such as in-app 911 calling to try and turn around a history of lax safety. A CNN report identified over a hundred instances in the United States of assault, battery, or sexual assault during a ride-hail.

What Our Clients Have to Say

“Thank you again for fighting the good fight in the [Defendant] case. It was life-changing, and I no longer feel like a victim. I’m sending you these gloves so your next opponents will have at least some protection from the full force of your wrath!” – With love, Sophia

More Client Testimonials

What Should You Do If You Were Assaulted By An Uber Driver?

Despite its severity, sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes. According to a Justice Department analysis of violent crime in 2016, nearly 80 percent of rapes and sexual assaults go unreported. Many survivors fear retaliation, believe the police will not do anything, or believe the crime was not important enough to report.

1. Ensure You Are in a Safe Place

Ensure you are secure and in a safe place. If possible, call a friend or family member and stay on the phone with them until you are safe.

If you can get home, make sure that all points of entry are locked and secured. If you are in a public space, ensure that you are not alone and reach out to someone (a store employee, a passerby, etc.).

2. If Injured, Go to a Hospital

If you are injured, immediately go the hospital. If a friend or family member is not available to take you to the hospital, you can contact the police and they can arrange transportation. Receiving medical treatment as soon as possible is of the utmost importance. Medical providers can offer a physical exam or kit to identify injuries and preserve evidence, provide emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy, and administer sexually transmitted infection (“STI”) testing.

3. Report to Police

Once you are in a safe place and have received the appropriate medical treatment, report the crime to the police. Depending on the procedures used in your area, you may be required to go to the police department and file an official report, or an officer may meet you at a safe location.

During the interview, you can have a friend, family member, or other support advocate by your side. Filing a report does not mean you have to proceed with a criminal suit; you can file an incident report without prosecution. Request copies of all reports the police are willing to provide you, which should at least include your initial incident report.

4. Report to Uber (or Lyft)

Report the driver to the rideshare company. After receiving a complaint, rideshare companies should investigate the crime and suspend the perpetrator’s account, rendering them unable to terrorize other passengers.

Be sure to document any communications you have with the rideshare company regarding the incident and assailant.

Hiring an attorney can allow the attorney to work on your behalf with the rideshare company to confirm the driver was removed.

5. Take Notes

Take detailed notes of the incident. As difficult as it is to relive the experience, it is important to write down all the details you can remember about the car, driver, and what was said and done. Having a detailed record of the incident is helpful in aiding the investigation against the driver.

Taking screenshots of the ride in the application and the driver’s profile plays a role in confirming the driver’s identity as well.

If possible request copies of any medical or therapy records related to the incident. Records are a useful tool in corroborating and assessing damages and effects of the incident, to help hold rideshare companies and perpetrators accountable.

6. Consult a Lawyer

Consult with an attorney. If you were sexually assaulted by a rideshare Uber driver, you may have a claim.

Levin Simes Abrams is a majority female managed and staffed law firm. We have significant experience representing survivors of sexual assault. We are sensitive to the significant emotional trauma and the long, difficult healing process associated with experiencing a sexual assault.

We will handle all communications with Uber, keeping you informed and answering questions every step of the way. We try to keep the process as easy as possible, so survivors can spend their energy on healing.

If you have any questions, please contact us at (415) 426-3000 to ask.