Survivors across the United States accuse Uber of failing to protect riders from sexual assault. Many riders say drivers attacked them during trips requested through the app. These lawsuits argue the company failed to protect passengers and did not properly screen or monitor drivers. For many who depend on ride-hailing services, the question of safety is now central and urgent.
The dispute affects thousands of riders. Courts now review detailed allegations about driver conduct, safety gaps, and company policies. The lawsuits also point to a larger concern about the ride-hail model and the limits of driver oversight.
How the Lawsuit Started
Riders filed separate lawsuits after they reported sexual assault by Uber drivers. Courts later pulled the cases into a single multidistrict litigation, known as MDL No. 3084, in the Northern District of California. Law-firm summaries state that each rider still holds an individual claim. The MDL only centralizes discovery and case management.
Plaintiffs accuse Uber of ignoring early warnings, weak screening, and poor safety protocols. They also claim the company placed rapid growth over rider safety.
Background of the Uber Driver Sex Abuse Lawsuit
Ride-hailing services like Uber have grown rapidly in the past decade, promising convenient and economical transportation with the tap of a phone. With that growth came questions about safety protocols. In the case of Uber, plaintiffs say the company knew or should have known about risks associated with drivers but did too little.
For instance, some public figures point to Uber’s internal data showing thousands of sexual assault or misconduct claims over several years (one source states more than 6,000 assaults in 2017-2018). The lawsuits contend that the company’s driver screening, background checks and passenger protections were insufficient. Moreover, many riders claim that when they reported misconduct, Uber either failed to act or took too long to respond.
This history is setting the stage for litigation focused not merely on the acts of individual drivers but on the business practices of Uber itself — whether the company was negligent in how it selected, monitored, and disciplined drivers entrusted with passenger safety.
Key Allegations
Plaintiffs say Uber failed to protect riders from sexual assault. They accuse the company of negligent hiring, weak background checks, and poor monitoring of drivers. They also point to slow or inconsistent responses to serious rider complaints.
Law-firm summaries explain that the MDL does not operate as a class action. Each plaintiff files an individual case, yet many outline the same concern: Uber did not provide a safe environment for riders. A recent report also noted that Uber claimed some accusers filed cases with fake ride receipts. That claim came from a Reuters report.
Timeline of the Uber Driver Sex Abuse Lawsuit
1. Early Complaints & Consumer Reports
In the years leading up to the current litigation, reports of sexual assault and misconduct by Uber drivers became public. One source cites that from 2017 to 2018 alone, more than 6,000 such incidents were linked to Uber drivers. These reports signalled mounting safety concerns among passengers and advocacy groups.
2. Company Response or Public Reaction
As reports accumulated, Uber added features to its app promising enhanced safety — for example, an emergency button and ride tracking. However, plaintiffs maintain that the measures did not go far enough or were unevenly applied. The company has publicly stated that serious incidents are rare and that it invests in safety.
3. Legal Filings & Court Actions
In 2023, claims against Uber were consolidated into MDL No. 3084 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. By late 2025, the number of lawsuits was reported in some sources as approximately 2,700.
One identified case: A plaintiff, M.A., filed an amended complaint on January 3, 2025, alleging assault on October 29, 2022.
4. Judge Notes / Judicial Comments
As of available information, there are no widely-reported direct comments by the presiding judge summarised in the competitor sources (such as broad rulings on liability beyond procedural motions).
5. Regulatory or Government Actions
No specific regulatory enforcement action appears in the competitor sources tied directly to the sexual assault claims (such as an official recall or FTC action). However, Uber has indicated in filings that certain plaintiffs submitted bogus ride receipts, and the company sought to dismiss or clarify those claims.
6. Settlement Timeline (if verified)
No public global settlement amount has been verified. One source states: ‘The Uber sexual assault lawsuit settlement remains uncertain, as no global settlement has been reached.’”
7. Current Status (Latest Verified Update)
As of the latest publicly available updates, the litigation remains ongoing, with thousands of claims filed, the MDL in place, and no global resolution confirmed.
Additional Case Details
Some additional points gleaned:
- Riders seeking to join the MDL or file claims continue to contact law firms. This emphasises evidence such as Uber app ride data, driver communication logs, and medical records.
- Some law-firm materials estimate potential high-value outcomes in individual cases (six- or seven-figure damages), though these are speculative and not verified settlements.
- Litigation also raises questions about Uber’s classification of drivers as independent contractors and the extent of the company’s control over their conduct as relevant to liability arguments.
Summary
The Uber driver sex abuse lawsuit shows a serious breakdown in rider safety. Many riders stepped forward after years of silence. Their accounts pushed the issue into national focus. Courts now review each case to decide if Uber failed to protect the public. The facts in these filings highlight deep concerns about driver oversight and company policies.
The outcome of this MDL will shape the future of ride-hail safety. Lawmakers, advocates, and riders watch each new update with close attention. The case may also force major changes within the industry. Stronger safety rules may follow once the courts issue key decisions. The riders who filed these cases seek accountability and a safer system for everyone who uses the service.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information, not legal advice. If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact us.