WERE YOU SEXUALLY ABUSED BY A RIDESHARE SERVICE SUCH AS UBER/LYFT?
You May Be Entitled To Substantial Compensation
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RIDESHARE SEXUAL ASSAULT LAWYERS
LK is Fighting for Survivors of Rideshare Sexual Assault
Rideshare services have become a popular, trusted mode of transportation. While services such as Uber and Lyft offer convenient and accessible transportation, these companies also face serious concerns about whether they adequately protect customers who ride in their cars.
Hundreds of passengers have reported that they were sexually assaulted while riding in Uber and Lyft cars. Lawsuits against Uber and Lyft have alleged a number of complaints including failure to use their technology to ensure passenger safety and failure to address and rectify reports of sexual misconduct by drivers.
Levy Konigsberg is fighting to expose the truth and demand accountability. If you or someone you know has been affected, take the first step, reach out today. Together, we can turn pain into justice and demand a system that prioritizes safety over profits.
Were you sexually abused?
History of Sexual Assault Involving Uber
Every eight minutes, someone reportedly experiences sexual assault during an Uber ride in the U.S., a staggering reality. The survivors deserve more than silence, and the system needs more than apologies.
- In August 2025, The New York Times reported that sealed court records revealed Uber allegedly received reports of sexual assault in the U.S. nearly every eight minutes on average between 2017 and 2022. This was reportedly far more frequent than the company had previously disclosed.
Between 2017 and 2022, there were reportedly 400,181 Uber trips in the U.S. that included allegations of sexual assault or misconduct.
In December 2023, a woman in Houston was allegedly raped by her driver and later woke up in a motel. The app showed the ride had deviated multiple times, and the trip was marked “ended” five hours after she was picked up.
In May 2024, a passenger reported being sexually assaulted by their driver.
In July 2024, another passenger reported being sexually assaulted. That same week, a passenger was allegedly forced to perform oral sex on a driver.
In December 2016, a woman in San Jose, California, was allegedly sexually assaulted and threatened.
- In May 2025, Joseph Graston was sentenced for allegedly sexually assaulting a passenger in Bangor, Maine in June 2023.
- In March 2025, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that over 1,600 alleged sexual assault cases against Uber could move forward.
- In March 2025, John Pastor-Mendoza was sentenced for allegedly kidnapping 12 women between 2018 and 2022. He allegedly sexually assaulted two of them and tried to assault seven others. Pastor-Mendoza allegedly used the ride-share system to pose as the victims’ driver.
- In October 2018, Ahmed Elgaafary was arrested for allegedly raping a woman in February 2018. He had picked her up at Valley Forge Casino and allegedly had sex with her after she passed out during the ride home. She woke up wearing only a bra, with bruises, and dirt under her nails. Her Uber app showed that the 15-minute ride had lasted nearly an hour.
- In September 2018, John David Sanchez was sentenced for allegedly raping a passenger and assaulting at least nine other women and children. Police found videos on his computer showing him raping women and abusing teenagers, with evidence going back at least five years.
In another case reported by CNN, a woman in Miami allegedly passed out during an Uber ride and was allegedly sexually assaulted.
In 2016, a woman in Long Beach, California, claimed she fell asleep in the back of an Uber and woke up to the driver allegedly assaulting her.
In another case, a San Diego driver pleaded guilty to indecent exposure and false imprisonment of an Uber passenger.
History of Sexual Assault Involving Lyft
The stories of abuse involving Lyft drivers are troubling. From reports of sexual assault to lawsuits exposing the company’s alleged failure to protect passengers, it’s clear that change is overdue.
- In August 2025, Lyft driver Luis Carlos Ramos Teixeira was charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a female passenger in Somerville.
- In May 2025, Lyft driver Mukhammadali Mukadyrov was charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a Colorado lawmaker in February 2024.
- In July 2024, Lyft settled a lawsuit that alleged the company didn’t do enough to prevent drivers from sexually and physically assaulting passengers.
- In January 2023, prosecutors filed charges against Qandagha Raufi, a 32-year-old Lyft driver, for allegedly sexually assaulting a passenger earlier that same month. Raufi’s charges include first-degree sexual abuse, third-degree kidnapping, and misdemeanor sexual misconduct. The case highlights the urgency for stronger safety measures and background checks within the ride-hailing industry to ensure passenger well-being and restore confidence in these services.
- In August 2022, a group of 17 passengers and drivers took legal action against Lyft, accusing the rideshare platform of subjecting them to sexual or physical assault. These alleged incidents occurred in various states, with 13 cases involving sexual assault and 4 cases of physical assault.
- In October 2021, Lyft released its inaugural safety report, revealing that between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019, the company had received over 4,000 reports of sexual assault from platform users.
- In September 2019, a woman filed a lawsuit against Lyft, claiming she was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint by her driver and two other men in New York in 2017.
Rideshare Companies Fail to Protect Passengers
The absence of reliable and universal safety standards exposes riders to the risk of sexual assault.
Uber and Lyft are responsible for ensuring that their customers are safe while riding with drivers. This entails conducting thorough background checks to ensure that drivers do not have criminal records. However, many background checks do not go back further than seven years, thereby failing to provide a complete and accurate picture of the driver’s history.
In addition, Uber and Lyft have refused to require fingerprinting for potential employees, which would offer a more comprehensive background investigation. Critics also maintain that Uber and Lyft fail to monitor drivers for inappropriate conduct once they are hired. Most shockingly, riders claim that Uber permits drivers who have been accused of sexual assault to continue driving for the company.
In addition to lax standards for hiring, riders may be at risk for sexual assault due to poor verification procedures. Some cases of sexual assault involved individuals who were not actually Uber or Lyft drivers. Other cases concerned minors who were improperly using ride sharing services and whose identities were not verified by drivers.
Several states have sought to implement stricter standards for background checks on drivers. For example, in California, Governor Brown signed a law prohibiting Uber and Lyft from hiring drivers who have been convicted of violent felonies. The law also authorizes Uber and Lyft to perform complete background checks that review criminal histories beyond the seven-year limit. While these laws may help identify some dangerous drivers, they are not national in scope and still may fail to adequately protect riders from sexual assault.
Liability in Rideshare Sexual Assault Cases
While Uber and Lyft claim to value passenger safety, they have declined to implement measures that protect riders from sexual abuse. When an assault occurs, both the driver and the ride-sharing company may be civilly liable for negligent failure to provide a safe environment.
New York, New Jersey and other states have recently passed legislation that extends the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits for sexual assault claims for a specified period of time.
If you’ve been a victim of rideshare sexual assault, our experienced rideshare sexual assault lawyers are here to help you seek justice and compensation.
We specialize in sexual abuse lawsuits against powerful institutions. These include government entities (such as prisons, schools, and juvenile detention / juvenile treatment centers), technology companies, and clergy.
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Who Can You Sue in a Sex Abuse Civil Case?
In a sex abuse civil case, the parties you might sue can vary depending on the circumstances of the abuse and the relationships involved.
Some potential parties that could be sued in a sex abuse civil case include:
- Individual Perpetrator: The alleged perpetrator of the sexual abuse can be named as a defendant in the lawsuit. This is often the person who directly committed the abusive acts.
- Institutions and Organizations: If the abuse occurred within an institution or organization, such as a school, church, sports club, or workplace, and they failed to take appropriate action to prevent or address the abuse, they might also be held liable.
- Employers: If the perpetrator was an employee of an organization or institution, the employer might be held vicariously liable for the actions of their employee if the abuse occurred within the scope of their employment.
- Property Owners: If the abuse occurred on a property owned by someone else, and the property owner failed to provide adequate security or take reasonable steps to prevent the abuse, they might be considered liable.
- Government Entities: In some cases, government entities might be involved, especially if the abuse occurred within a state institution or facility. Suing a government entity might involve specific procedures and limitations.
Sex abuse cases can be legally complex, so it's highly advisable to consult with experienced legal professionals who specialize in this area to understand your options and pursue the appropriate legal action. Levy Konigsberg, along with our team of sexual abuse lawyers, is available to provide assistance for your sexual abuse case.
Do I Have a Case?
You may have grounds to file a civil legal action if you were sexually abused by a rideshare service.
As civil claims, these cases are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse and focus instead on holding institutions liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:
- Your abuser is no longer alive.
- Your abuser was never charged with or convicted of a crime.
Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims
In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:
- Past medical and mental health expenses
- Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and psychological harm
- Lost income
- Other economic and non-economic damages
Levy Konigsberg is investigating cases of sexual abuse by rideshare drivers, focusing on holding companies like Uber and Lyft accountable for failing to protect passengers.
We Represent Survivors in All Types of Sex Abuse Claims
Trust Levy Konigsberg's Legal Team for Proven Results in Sexual Abuse and Negligence Cases
Levy Konigsberg LLP, a nationally recognized law firm, has built a legacy over three decades, recovering over $3 billion in sexual abuse compensation for clients. Led by award-winning sexual abuse lawyers, we specialize in representing survivors in sexual abuse across the country, taking on powerful institutions. Our top-rated trial practice handles all types of sexual abuse or negligence cases, showcasing numerous testimonials and successful case results.