Your Uber Driver Did Something Wrong. Here Is What You Can Do About It.

You never planned to be in such an uncomfortable situation. But then your driver crossed a line that should never have been crossed.

Whether it was unwanted touching, threatening behavior, or something far worse, what happened to you was not okay. And you should never have to “deal with it’’ alone.

It was not only you. Uber drivers across the country have harmed thousands of passengers. Many of them did not know they could take legal action. Many of them were told it was too complicated, and many assumed that they could never go against Uber, and that it was untouchable.

None of that is true.

An Uber driver’s sexual assault lawsuit is a real and valid legal option in California. Let us explain exactly how it works, what your rights are, and what steps to take right now.

Uber has spent years telling the public that serious incidents are rare. They point to statistics. They talk about background checks. They say 99.9% of trips go smoothly.

But here is what they do not say upfront.

What the Data Actually Shows

According to Uber’s own 2021-2022 U.S. Safety Report, the company received 2,717 reports of sexual assault in just those two years. The overwhelming majority of victims were riders, not drivers.

And that is just what they publicly admitted. Uber reported about 12,500 serious sexual assault cases in total.

However, reporting by The New York Times, based on court records, suggests there were over 400,000 reports of sexual misconduct in that time, about one every eight minutes. This bigger number includes many types of complaints (like harassment), so it isn’t directly comparable to the smaller total, which only counts specific types of sexual assault.

The gap between what the company told the public and what was actually happening is enormous. And it is exactly why so many victims are now filing an Uber driver sexual assault lawsuit to hold the company accountable.

This is the question everyone asks. Uber calls its drivers independent contractors. They use that label to avoid responsibility for what those drivers do.

But California courts have made clear that this defense has limits.

You can file Uber assault claims against the company itself when it:

• Failed to screen or background-check the driver properly
• Received prior complaints about the driver and did nothing
• Did not warn passengers about known safety risks
• Profited from rides while ignoring red flags about the driver

You can also file a driver misconduct lawsuit against the individual driver directly at the same time. You do not have to choose between the two.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand which claims apply and how to build the strongest possible case.

If something unfortunate happened to you during an Uber ride, your actions in the days right after matter a lot.

Here is what you should try your best to do immediately:

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or need medical help.
• Go to a doctor or urgent care, even if the injuries are not visible.
• Screenshot everything in the app: trip details, driver name, route, and timestamps.
• Report the incident to Uber through the app’s safety center.
• File a police report, even if you are unsure about pressing criminal charges.
• Do not delete the Uber app or the trip from your history.

Every single one of these steps builds your case. A police report and medical record prove that whatever harm was done to you was directly caused by the incident. The trip data proves the driver was the one assigned to your ride.

And whatever you do, do not accept any settlement or sign anything from Uber before speaking to a lawyer.

People often don’t realize how much a successful Uber driver’s sexual assault lawsuit can recover. This is not just about medical bills.

Depending on your situation, you may be entitled to:

• Medical expenses, including therapy and long-term mental health treatment
• Lost wages if your injuries affected your ability to work
• Pain and suffering, including emotional trauma, PTSD, and anxiety
• Punitive damages in cases where Uber’s negligence was especially reckless

The Uber lawsuit settlement amount varies by case. But victims who are represented by a skilled attorney consistently recover more than those who do everything alone. Insurance companies and corporate legal teams do not offer fair settlements to unrepresented victims because they think that they are unaware of their rights, which is the case most of the time.

What the Government Found About Rideshare Safety Gaps

A 2024 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), which reviewed rideshare safety data and company reporting practices nationwide, found that there are currently no federal requirements for rideshare companies to collect or publicly report data on assaults.

The key finding: Because companies self-report on their own terms, the actual number of incidents is almost certainly higher than what is publicly disclosed.

This gap in federal oversight means victims have to fight even harder for accountability. It also means the burden of holding these companies responsible often falls on individuals who choose to file a claim against Uber drivers through the civil court system.

A lot of people hesitate to file because they think it will be a long, public, overwhelming ordeal.

Most cases do not go to trial. Many resolve through negotiation and settlement, especially if you have an attorney. And with the right one, you do not have to handle any of it yourself.

Your lawyer will gather the evidence, communicate with the insurance company, and handle the legal filings. You focus on recovering.

California’s statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of the incident. That deadline passes by really fast, so do not wait too long to get advice.

At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we handle a select number of cases at a time. That means every client gets real attention instead of being delayed for days.

We know how rideshare companies operate, how they try to minimize claims, and we know how to fight back for our clients.

We handle personal injury cases across Los Angeles, including cases involving wrongful death, brain injuries, and serious trauma as a result of someone else’s misconduct.

We handle cases on a contingency fee basis. Attorney’s fees are paid only if there is a recovery, and the written fee agreement explains the specific terms and any cost responsibilities.

What happened in that car was not your fault. But what happens next is something you can control.

You have the right to hold your driver accountable. You have the right to hold Uber accountable. And you have the right to be compensated for what you went through.

Blair & Ramirez LLP is available 24/7 for you. Call us at (310) 362-5746 or contact us online for a free, confidential case review.