You may feel overwhelmed, not sure who you can trust, and uncertain about what to do next after experiencing something as traumatic as a sexual assault connected to an Uber or Lyft ride in Virginia. You also have the right to ask questions while protecting your privacy and to learn whether you may have a civil claim against the driver, the rideshare company, or any other party responsible for your harm.

At Marks & Harrison, our law firm has represented injured Virginians for generations and recovered over $1 billion on behalf of our clients.* We understand that a case involving an alleged sexual assault requires compassion, discretion, and careful preparation.

We are ready to help you. Contact us today to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer about your potential Virginia Uber or Lyft sexual assault claims lawsuit in a free consultation. 

We can review your case and explain your rights and options, including the right to pursue full and fair compensation for your medical care, counseling, lost income, pain, emotional trauma, and all other losses tied to what happened.

How Can Our Rideshare Sexual Assault Lawyers Help You?

For over 115 years, injury victims and their families throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC have counted on our award-winning law firm to fight for the compensation they deserve.

With a highly skilled team of 34 lawyers and over 130 support personnel, including an in-house team of investigators, we are one of the largest personal injury law firms in the region. We have also been recognized as one of Virginia’s “Legacy Law Firms” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly due to our ability to adapt to economic changes, new technology, and a constantly changing legal landscape.

With a solid record of recovering over $1 billion for our clients*, big corporations and insurance companies know our experienced trial lawyers won’t back down when protecting our clients’ rights and seeking maximum compensation.

We can help you move forward and seek justice through a rideshare sexual assault lawsuit by taking steps such as:

  • Reviewing the facts of your sexual assault in the Uber or Lyft in a free and confidential consultation
  • Determining what filing deadlines may apply to your potential sexual assault lawsuit (although personal injury claims generally must be filed within two years from the injury date in Virginia, shorter or longer deadlines could apply to your case)
  • Preserving evidence such as app data, trip records, messages, reports, and witness information
  • Identifying all potentially liable parties such as the driver or rideshare company
  • Consulting with knowledgeable professionals who may be called on to testify as safety, medical, mental health, or technology experts
  • Handling filings and communications with insurance companies and opposing counsel
  • Preparing your case for settlement negotiations or trial if that is what it takes to pursue maximum compensation

Trust matters. In every case, our goal is to provide the same clear legal guidance and steady support that has earned the praise of our former clients.

“My experience with Marks and Harrison was peaceful and worry-free. They kept their hands on my case as if it was their own individual case. They kept me informed every step of the way. Fought for me to the end and compensated me well.” 

– Geraldine Morris

To preserve potentially critical evidence and meet all filing deadlines that apply to your case, don’t wait to connect with us to discuss your case. Contact Marks & Harrison when you’re ready to move forward.

What Are the Allegations in Sexual Assault Lawsuits Against Uber and Lyft?

Typically, Uber sexual assault lawsuits and Lyft-related rideshare sexual assault claims focus on more than the individual driver’s conduct. Survivors often allege that rideshare companies failed to use reasonable safety measures to protect them as passengers from foreseeable harm. Claims often allege that the rideshare company failed to take reasonable steps such as:

  • Properly screening drivers
  • Responding to earlier complaints
  • Removing unsafe drivers from the platform
  • Designing apps with safety tools that reduce known safety risks such as sexual assaults

Virginia riders who experienced sexual assault or sexual misconduct during an Uber or Lyft trip may be able to file an individual personal injury lawsuit. These claims are connected to broader nationwide litigation that accuses rideshare companies of negligence, weak driver screening, and failing to act on safety warning signs before more passengers were harmed.

At Marks & Harrison, our experienced investigators and lawyers can examine what happened before, during, and after your ride, including whether Uber or Lyft:

  • Had notice of prior reports involving the same driver
  • Reviewed updated background checks
  • Ignored prior customer complaints
  • Gave passengers timely help after they reported a sexual assault

Who Can File an Uber and Lyft Rideshare Sexual Assault Lawsuit?

You may be eligible to file a rideshare sexual assault lawsuit if an Uber or Lyft driver — or, in some circumstances, another passenger — sexually assaulted, sexually abused, harassed, touched without consent, or otherwise harmed you during or in connection with a rideshare trip. Family members may have rights if the sexual assault victim was a minor, or if the assault led to a wrongful death.

Virginia has strict deadlines for civil claims, including those arising from sexual assaults. Those deadlines vary based on the sexual assault survivor’s age, the type of injuries they suffered, and when they discovered or reasonably should have discovered the harm. So, to avoid missing critical deadlines, you should consult with an experienced rideshare sexual assault attorney as soon as you feel ready to move forward in your case.

Are Uber and Lyft Sexual Assault Claims Class-Action Lawsuits?

Today, most Uber and Lyft sexual assault cases are not being handled as traditional class-action lawsuits. In those actions, a single lawsuit represents the rights and interests of many people who suffered the same type of harm in the same way, and a single result applies to the entire group, or class.

Instead, because the experience of each Uber and Lyft sexual assault survivor differs, and the evidence in each case may vary, these cases are being pursued as individual personal injury claims. However, individual claims may still be consolidated for pre-trial matters in what is called “multidistrict litigation,” or an MDL. 

An MDL can save time and expenses for all parties by allowing a single court to manage a group of lawsuits with common issues. For instance, claims involving rideshare sexual assaults may share issues such as:

  • Company safety policies
  • Driver screening procedures
  • Corporate knowledge of prior reports of sexual or violent assaults

When you work with Marks & Harrison, we can explain how your case may join an MDL or follow another path. Even if your sexual assault claim is part of an MDL, it remains your own. You will still seek compensation based on the unique facts and circumstances in your case, including the distinct harm you suffered. You must also be ready to meet all filing deadlines and offer your own evidence.

What Is the Status of the Uber MDL as of 2026?

Currently, federal Uber passenger sexual assault litigation is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California as MDL No. 3084, and “bellwether” trials have been held testing key issues, such as whether rideshare companies like Uber bear responsibility for the safety of their passengers. For instance:

  • In February 2026, a jury in an Arizona federal court awarded $8.5 million to a woman who claimed that an Uber driver sexually assaulted her when she was age 19.
  • In April 2026, a jury in a North Carolina federal court found Uber liable in a case brought by a woman who was sexually assaulted by her driver in 2019.

While these outcomes show that courts and juries across the country are taking Uber and Lyft sexual assault claims seriously, they do not determine the outcome of a Virginia rideshare sexual assault survivor’s case. Every case depends on its unique facts and circumstances.

How Many Uber Sexual Assault Cases Have Been Filed So Far?

Although news reports indicate that “thousands” of Lyft and Uber passenger sexual assault cases have been filed nationwide, our only concern at Marks & Harrison is your specific case. When you contact us for a confidential consultation, we will want to know the specific facts in your case, such as:

  • What occurred before, during, and after your ride?
  • Who was the driver, and what was their driving record and criminal background?
  • Did the rideshare company detect any driver “red flags” (or should it have seen them) before the assault happened?
  • What filing deadlines apply to your sexual assault claim?

Is Filing a Police Report Necessary to File a Lawsuit?

A police report may serve as important evidence as you seek compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial harm you have suffered due to a sexual assault in an Uber or Lyft. However, even if you don’t file a report with a law enforcement agency, you can still move forward with your claim.

Some survivors report an assault right away. Others need time before feeling safe enough to report what happened to a law enforcement agency. Regardless of whether a survivor pursues criminal charges, they can seek justice in a civil claim.

A civil lawsuit is separate from a criminal case. Even if a prosecutor pursues no charges, or a jury finds a defendant not guilty, a survivor may still pursue full and fair compensation in a civil claim.

Who Can Be Held Liable in Uber & Lyft Sexual Lawsuits?

Several parties may share liability when a person suffers injuries in a rideshare-related sexual assault. Those potentially liable parties include:

  • The driver who committed the assault
  • Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare company for their failure to use reasonable care in screening the driver, responding to complaints, giving adequate passenger warnings, or providing adequate safety features in their apps
  • Another person or business whose negligence contributed to the assault

Even though rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft may argue that their drivers are independent contractors, and not employees, the company’s own negligence can expose it to lawsuits alleging they failed to adequately protect riders.

What Types of Damages Can You Seek in a Rideshare Sexual Assault Claim?

No lawsuit can undo the harm of a sexual assault. By pursuing a personal injury claim, you can seek financial accountability and some measure of justice. While every case is different, the compensation that survivors may seek in a personal injury claim arising from a rideshare sexual assault includes:

  • Past medical expenses and future medical costs
  • Counseling, therapy, medication, and trauma treatment
  • Lost wages or reduced ability to work and earn income
  • Pain, suffering, fear, humiliation, and emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Transportation or relocation costs tied to safety concerns
  • Future care needs
  • Punitive damages in cases involving especially reckless or intentional conduct

The amount in a claim depends on many factors, including the facts, severity of harm, and available insurance coverage. Marks & Harrison cannot guarantee a specific result. However, we can promise that we will listen to you, prepare your case carefully, and work tirelessly to pursue full and fair compensation for you.

How Long Do I Have to File an Uber or Lyft Sexual Assault Claim?

In Virginia, the deadline to file a civil sexual assault claim, including a lawsuit arising from an assault connected to an Uber or Lyft ride, depends on when it “accrues.” In most cases, the claim accrues on the date of the assault. However, special rules can change the deadlines in some cases, such as those involving minors or incapacitated people, or in cases when circumstances delay discovery of injuries. Generally:

  • If you were 18 or older and the claim accrued before July 1, 2020, you may have only two years to file a personal injury lawsuit.
  • If you were 18 or older and the claim accrued on or after July 1, 2020, you have up to 10 years for certain sexual abuse claims.
  • If the victim was a minor or incapacitated person, the deadline may be as long as 20 years. 

Because these deadlines are strict and depend on the specific facts in a case, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney at Marks & Harrison as soon as possible. We can advise you on the deadline and take immediate steps to preserve evidence and interview witnesses in your case while their memories are fresh.

Contact a Virginia Uber & Lyft Sexual Assault Claims Lawyer

If you suffered a sexual assault connected to an Uber or Lyft ride, you don’t have to go forward alone. We’re here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation. We can review your case in a private, confidential conversation and explain the paths you may take to pursue the compensation you deserve.

*Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case depends on its unique facts and circumstances.