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Lyft Sexual Assault Lawsuits: How Survivors Can Take Legal Action
When Lyft launched in 2012, it promised something different from its bigger, more aggressive competitor, Uber. Lyft marketed itself as the “friendly” rideshare company—a safer, community-driven alternative where passengers could feel comfortable hopping into a stranger’s car. But behind the pink mustache branding and feel-good messaging, Lyft passengers were experiencing the same harrowing nightmare that had already begun unfolding in Uber rides.
While Uber’s sexual assault crisis has dominated headlines, thousands of Lyft passengers have also suffered terrifying, life-altering assaults at the hands of drivers. Reports of drivers groping, stalking, drugging, and even assaulting passengers have surfaced in horrifying numbers. And Lyft, just like Uber, turned a blind eye.
Lyft had a chance to learn from Uber’s failures—to implement rigorous background checks, actually enforce safety policies, and take proactive measures to protect riders. Instead, it followed Uber’s lead in prioritizing rapid growth and profit over passenger safety.
While Lyft publicly condemned sexual assault, behind the scenes, it continued approving drivers with criminal histories, failing to act on assault reports, and misleading riders into thinking they were in good hands.
The result?
Between 2017 and 2022, Lyft disclosed 6,809 reports of sexual assault.
That’s nearly four incidents of sexual assault in Lyft rides every day. While some may argue that the number of Lyft sexual assaults is miniscule in comparison to the total number of rides, even one incident is one too many. Not only that, but the actual number of sexual assaults that occur in Lyft rides is likely much higher, as many cases are not reported.
March 8, 2025
Lyft Driver Sentenced to 290 Years in Prison For Kidnapping A Dozen Women
A Denver judge sentenced former Lyft driver John Pastor-Mendoza to 290 years to life in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting multiple women between 2018 and 2019. Pastor-Mendoza targeted intoxicated women, posing as their expected rideshare driver, and assaulted them after they entered his vehicle. Despite his claims that the encounters were consensual, DNA evidence linked him to the crimes, leading to his conviction on 30 charges, including kidnapping and sexual assault.
March 4, 2025
Rideshare Sexual Assault Legislation Introduced in Colorado After State Lawmaker Allegedly Sexually Assaulted by Lyft Driver
One month after Democratic state Rep. Jenny Willford filed a lawsuit against Lyft following her alleged sexual assault by a driver in February 2024, a Colorado bill proposes stricter security requirements for rideshare companies, including enhanced background checks and driver verification.
July 24, 2024
Settlement Reached Between Lyft Shareholders and Company Over Background Checks and Sexual Assault Cases
Lyft agreed to implement several safety and governance reforms to settle a shareholder lawsuit accusing company executives of failing to prevent driver-related sexual and physical assaults. As part of the settlement, Lyft committed to enhancing passenger awareness of its “Alert 911 Silently” feature, improving its reporting system to ensure 24/7 access to a live representative, and strengthening driver training and ethical guidelines. These changes will remain in place for at least three years. The lawsuit, brought by shareholders, alleged that Lyft’s inadequate driver background checks and safety measures harmed the company’s reputation.
September 1, 2022
17 New Lawsuits Filed Against Lyft Over Sexual and Physical Assault
The lawsuits were filed around the country and claim the company failed to protect passengers and drivers from physical and sexual assault. Of the lawsuits, 14 were from people who said they were sexually assaulted while using Lyft, and three said they were physically assaulted.
June 17, 2022
$25 Million Settlement Reached Over Safety Disclosure Failure Pre-IPO
Lyft resolved shareholder claims that it concealed safety problems, including sexual assaults by drivers, prior to its 2019 initial public offering.
The good news is that survivors of Lyft sexual misconduct and assault incidents are fighting back with lawsuits.
If you or a loved one has been assaulted by a Lyft driver, you are not alone. You may have the right to hold Lyft accountable for its negligence.
The first step in pursuing legal justice and receiving financial compensation is learning what your rights are as a survivor. Pursuing justice takes strength and courage, but it’s a critical step in the healing process and making you feel whole again.
SurvivorsRights.com can connect you with an attorney who specializes in rideshare assault cases. Our dedicated intake team comprises professionally trained, empathetic individuals based in the USA. When you are ready to contact our intake team, you will be connected with a patient and caring staff member who will securely enter your information.
Filling out the contact form does not mean you are filing a lawsuit. It is simply the first step in understanding your legal rights. Our intake team and the attorneys we partner with understand what you are going through and will treat you as a unique individual, not just a number. By providing your information below, you are under no obligation. Our partner attorneys offer complimentary consultations, and your information is never shared or sold.
Let’s break down what you need to know about Lyft sexual assault lawsuits—including how you can take legal action and seek justice.
Sexual assault in a Lyft ride can take many forms, from unwanted touching to more severe violations of personal body space. Some of the most common circumstances where assaults occur include the following:
As noted above, Lyft has publicly disclosed 6,809 reports of sexual assault. However, these incidents occurred between 2017 and 2022. As of this update in 2025, Lyft has only publicly disclosed sexual assault incident reports from 2017 to 2022. There is no official data from Lyft covering incidents from 2012 (when Lyft launched) to 2017, nor is there any data for 2023 and beyond.
This means the actual number of sexual assaults involving Lyft drivers is likely higher, as the missing years and any underreported cases are not accounted for in Lyft’s available safety reports. If Lyft follows Uber’s lead, a future safety report could reveal additional incidents from 2023 onward, but as of now, that data is unavailable.
Lyft has publicly stated that it has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual assault and misconduct. The second-largest rideshare company in the United States (it has captured nearly a quarter of the rideshare market), worth $5 billion on the stock market (as of March 10, 2025), encourages riders to report incidents through its app. Lyft claims to investigate every report. However, survivors and legal experts have criticized Lyft’s handling of assault reports, citing:
It may seem unbelievable to survivors of a rideshare sexual assault that to this day (March 2025), Lyft drivers are not fingerprinted. It would be one thing if that were previously the case. Again, Lyft last released a sexual assault safety report in 2022, when 2,651 incidents were reported. One would think that since then, the company would enforce more stringent background checks that include fingerprinting. However, the company continues to conduct only name-based background checks.
Based on company information, Lyft requires all U.S. driver applicants to undergo a criminal background check conducted by a third-party company, Checkr, Inc. This process involves drivers providing consent and a valid Social Security number.
Like Uber, Lyft does not mandate fingerprint-based background checks for its drivers (the one notable exception: New York City). Instead, the company relies on name-based checks.
The International Biometrics and Identity Association (IBIA) is the leading international tech ID trade group. It previously recommended implementing fingerprint-based background checks to both Uber and Lyft. Fingerprinting is much more secure than simple biographical checks, noted IBIA, which published a white paper that included data on the proven accuracy of fingerprint-based background checks and the quick turnaround times to process requests.
Identity Week quoted IBIA’s Managing Director, Tovah LaDier, who said, “There are significant risks in relying solely on a biographic background check.” LaDier added, “Biographic searches are vulnerable to data entry errors and attempts to use false or misleading biographic information to thwart detection.”
To date (March 2025), both Lyft and Uber have stubbornly resisted calls to implement fingerprint-based background checks for their drivers. Despite mounting reports of sexual assaults in rideshare vehicles and growing public outcry, the companies have repeatedly fought against stricter vetting processes. Why? The answer boils down to money, convenience, and control.
Fingerprint-based background checks, like those required for taxi drivers and other licensed transportation workers, provide a far more rigorous screening process than the name-based checks Lyft currently uses. A fingerprint check runs against FBI and DOJ criminal databases, flagging serious offenses that might not appear in basic background screenings.
Lyft, however, argues that fingerprinting discriminates against minorities due to outdated or incomplete arrest records that may not reflect final case dispositions. While some civil rights groups support this argument, critics believe Lyft’s real motive is profit and speed—fingerprint-based checks are more expensive and could discourage drivers from signing up. The more friction in the hiring process, the fewer drivers Lyft has on the road, which affects their bottom line.
Another factor at play is Lyft’s business model. The company classifies drivers as independent contractors, not employees. This distinction is key because deeper screening and oversight could blur the line between contractors and employees, making it easier for courts to argue that Lyft should be held legally responsible for drivers’ actions.
Despite its fierce resistance, California regulators have forced some change. In December 2024, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) mandated fingerprint background checks for drivers transporting unaccompanied minors. This narrow exception proves that Lyft can conduct these checks—but only when legally required to do so.
For all other passengers, Lyft continues to sidestep fingerprint background checks and prioritize rapid driver onboarding over passenger safety.
Yes.
Attorneys handling rideshare sexual assault cases do have a legal leg to stand on with respect to background checks (or lack thereof).
Key Legal Arguments Against Lyft:
Lyft’s refusal to use fingerprint background checks doesn’t automatically make it liable for assaults. But attorneys argue that this failure, along with weak safety policies and keeping dangerous drivers on the platform, paints a clear picture of negligence. In other words, Lyft’s lack of proper screening put passengers at risk—and now the company is being held accountable in court.
Multiple lawsuits have successfully argued that Lyft can be held responsible for failing to take reasonable measures to prevent sexual assaults. Confidential settlements suggest that Lyft prefers to settle rather than risk losing in court, signaling that legal arguments against the company have merit.
Uber is facing hundreds of similar sexual assault cases in a federal court. (1,600 cases as of March 2025). These cases are adjudicated in one U.S. District Court in a multidistrict litigation (MDL). Currently, sexual assault lawsuits against Lyft are being filed and processed individually across various jurisdictions. While there have been discussions about consolidating these cases, no MDL has been established for Lyft as of March 2025.
This means that each case against Lyft proceeds independently.
Why not just lump all Lyft sexual assault cases together in a class action? Just as with Uber sexual assault cases, there is no Lyft class action lawsuit. Why not? For starters, if you were sexually assaulted by a Lyft driver and have strong evidence, you wouldn’t want your case lumped into a class action. Survivors in a class action typically receive only pennies on the dollar compared to what they could recover through an individual lawsuit—whether filed in state court or as part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in federal court.
Class action lawsuits usually result in a low settlement that, for a billion-dollar company like Lyft, is like a slap on the wrist. (As of mid-March 2025, Lyft was worth around $5 billion on the stock market.) Worse, all members of the class receive the exact same payout (if a settlement is reached), regardless of the severity of their experience.
Class actions work best when all plaintiffs share nearly identical claims, such as a defective product that affects everyone the same way—like faulty airbags or seat belts. Sexual assault cases, however, are deeply personal and unique. Every survivor’s experience, level of harm, and legal argument is different, making class action an unfair approach.
Instead, survivors typically file individual lawsuits against Lyft.
Another reason no class action has been filed against Lyft? Like Uber, Lyft’s Terms of Service prior to 2018 included a class action waiver. Lyft users, when downloading the app, had agreed to resolve disputes through individual binding arbitration rather than participating in class, group, or representative actions. This means that by agreeing to Lyft’s terms, riders waived their right to file or join class action lawsuits against the company. Binding arbitration typically favors companies instead of consumers. For a survivor of a sexual assault, binding arbitration or mediation fails to provide meaningful justice or compensation.
Both Uber and Lyft announced in May 2018 that they were ending mandatory arbitration for sexual assault claims.
However, this raises the question: What if a survivor experienced Lyft driver sexual assault prior to May 2018 when the arbitration clause was waived…can they still file a lawsuit?
The short answer: it depends.
Here are some of the key legal considerations:
If the statute of limitations allows, survivors assaulted before 2018 can still file lawsuits against Lyft.
However, Lyft may try to enforce the arbitration agreement that was in place at the time of the assault.
Some courts have overturned arbitration agreements in cases of sexual assault, ruling that they are unconscionable (grossly unfair).
If a judge invalidates the arbitration clause, a survivor may be able to file a lawsuit in court and, if an MDL exists, be included in the litigation. (As of March 2025, no MDL has been ordered.)
In some cases, courts have ruled in favor of survivors, allowing them to proceed in court despite pre-2018 arbitration clauses.
If Lyft attempts to force arbitration, attorneys may argue that the company’s history of mishandling sexual assault complaints and misleading safety claims make the arbitration agreement unenforceable.
The bipartisan Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (EFASASHA), commonly known as the #MeToo bill, which was signed into law in March 2022, made it illegal for any company to enforce arbitration for sexual assault claims, even if a survivor had previously agreed to it.
While this federal law guarantees survivors the right to sue, it mainly impacts cases where arbitration agreements were still enforceable. This law means it doesn’t change much for Lyft survivors assaulted after May 2018 but protects those assaulted on or after March 2022 from any future arbitration clauses. In other words, EFASASHA provides extra protection by ensuring Lyft (or any company) can’t reinstate forced arbitration in the future.
The term “multidistrict litigation” or MDL has been mentioned several times in this guide to Lyft sexual assault lawsuits. This is an important legal term for survivors to understand because an MDL allows multiple lawsuits with similar claims to be consolidated in a single federal court for pretrial proceedings. Why is this beneficial for survivors? This process streamlines evidence gathering, reduces redundant legal costs, and ensures that survivors benefit from shared discovery—meaning attorneys can work together to build a stronger case against Lyft.
If an MDL is eventually established for Lyft sexual assault cases, it could provide survivors with a more powerful and coordinated legal strategy against the company while still preserving their right to an individual settlement or trial.
As mentioned, as of March 2025, no MDL has been established for Lyft sexual assault cases. Whether there’s an MDL in the future depends on if the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) orders the consolidation of Lyft sexual assault cases. The JPML determines whether civil actions pending in two or more federal judicial districts should be transferred to a single federal district court for pretrial proceedings.
As of March 2025, it’s tough to say. An MDL is no guarantee. If enough survivors file lawsuits in multiple federal districts, attorneys may petition for consolidation. Based on cases that share similar allegations, such as Lyft failing to conduct proper background checks or disregarding prior complaints against drivers, centralization is indeed justified.
If the courts become overwhelmed with Lyft sexual assault cases, the JPML may see consolidation as the best way to streamline proceedings, as it did with Uber sexual assault cases. (Uber is a much larger company—$150 billion market cap as of March 2025; Lyft: $5 billion; there are thousands more Uber sexual assault claims.)
Lower case volume than Uber
The Uber MDL (#3084) was created due to the sheer number of cases and lawsuits. From 2017-2022, Uber’s US safety data reported 12,552 incidents of sexual abuse. By comparison, Lyft reported 6,809 incidents over that same period. The main difference is the number of lawsuits. As of March 2025, there are about 3,000 Uber sexual assault lawsuits, with 1,600 consolidated into MDL 3084; the remaining 1,400 or so cases are lawsuits filed within the state court.
Desite Lyft reporting approximately 45% less sexual assault incidents than Uber from 2017-2022, 6,809 is still a significant number. (One incident is one too many!) However, the number of Lyft sexual assault lawsuits that have been filed are a fraction in comparison to Uber.
Why? One reason is that most mass tort attorneys are currently focusing on Uber sexual assault cases (A mass tort is a legal action where multiple plaintiffs file individual lawsuits against the same defendant for similar harm caused by the defendant’s actions or negligence.)
SurvivorsRights.com can help connect you with an attorney who helps Lyft sexual assault victims pursue justice and compensation. The first step in finding out what your legal rights are is to fill out the intake form below.
A Lyft sexual assault MDL could be ordered if more survivors come forward and lawsuits continue to be filed in federal courts. Keep in mind that the number of Uber sexual assault lawsuits very quickly jumped from under 400 to the current (as of March 2025) 1,600.
The number of Lyft sexual assault claims could also spike within a short period of time.
Survivors interested in legal action against Lyft should consult with an attorney to understand their best legal path.
If the steep cost of acquiring an attorney is making you think twice about pursuing legal justice, that is understandable. However, the rideshare assault attorneys we work with do not take any money upfront; they work on contingency. This means they only take a percentage of your settlement or jury award should your lawsuit be successful. In other words, you only pay if you win your case.
If you’ve experienced sexual assault by a Lyft driver, now is the time to take action. You don’t have to navigate this alone—legal help is available. Consulting with an experienced attorney can help you understand your rights, determine the best legal path forward, and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Reach out for a free, confidential consultation today. Your voice matters, and holding Lyft accountable could help prevent future assaults.
By filling out the form below and hitting enter, it’s important to realize that this does not mean you are filing a lawsuit. It is merely the first step in finding out if you have a case and, if so, what your legal options are. If it is determined that you have a case against Lyft, the rideshare sexual assault attorneys we partner with will patiently and clearly explain your legal options. You will be in full control in determining which course you want to pursue.
Yes. Survivors of sexual assault by Lyft drivers can file lawsuits against the company, arguing that Lyft failed to properly vet drivers, enforce safety policies, or act on previous misconduct reports. Survivors may also file lawsuits against the individual driver responsible.
No. Sexual assault cases are highly individualized, and class action lawsuits work best for cases where plaintiffs share nearly identical claims, such as defective products. Instead, survivors typically file individual lawsuits. Eventually, if enough cases are filed in federal court, they may be consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) for pretrial proceedings.
No. As of March 2025, Lyft sexual assault cases are still being handled individually in various state and federal courts. However, if enough lawsuits are filed in multiple federal jurisdictions, attorneys may petition for an MDL, similar to MDL 3084 for Uber sexual assault cases.
Between 2017 and 2022, Lyft disclosed 6,809 reports of sexual assault. However, Lyft has not released data on sexual assault incidents from 2012-2017 (when it first launched) or 2023 onward, meaning the true number is likely higher.
Several factors contribute to fewer lawsuits against Lyft:
Survivors who win their cases may be entitled to compensation for:
Before May 2018, Lyft required riders to waive their right to sue by agreeing to arbitration. Survivors of pre-2018 assaults may still be forced into arbitration, depending on their case. However, some courts have ruled that arbitration agreements in sexual assault cases are unenforceable. One of our partner attorneys handling rideshare sexual assault litigation will discuss your options with you.
Yes. Many survivors do not report assaults right away due to trauma, fear, or uncertainty. Even if you did not report it to Lyft or law enforcement, you may still have legal options. An attorney can help determine whether you qualify to file a claim.
Every state has a statute of limitations, which is the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. Some states allow survivors to file lawsuits years after the assault, especially if they were minors at the time. Speaking with an attorney as soon as possible ensures you don’t miss your chance to seek justice.
Not necessarily. Many cases settle before trial, meaning you may not have to appear in court. However, if your case goes to trial, your attorney will support you throughout the process to ensure you feel safe and prepared.
Our rideshare sexual assault attorneys we partner with work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront. They only receive payment if you win your case—either through a settlement or jury verdict.
The first step is filling out the contact form so our intake team can connect you with one of our partner attorneys who understands what you’re going through.
There’s no pressure to move forward, but knowing your legal rights is an important step toward justice.