A new study conducted by Chaikin Trial Group highlights a troubling reality for the rideshare industry: while Uber and Lyft have transformed urban mobility, they have also become the backdrop for thousands of sexual assault allegations. The research uncovers consistent patterns in when and how these assaults occur, who the victims and perpetrators are, and how litigation is reshaping accountability for the sector.

 

The Scale of the Problem

In 2024, Uber alone facilitated an estimated 11.3 billion trips in the United States, contributing to a rideshare market valued at more than $120.8 billion. Yet alongside this growth, the study notes that between 2021 and 2022, Uber reported 2,717 sexual assault incidents. Lyft's own safety report documented 2,651 accusations across its five most serious assault categories between 2020 and 2022.

While both companies emphasize that overall assault numbers have declined compared to earlier reporting periods, the study stresses that the most serious categories—particularly non-consensual sexual penetration—have risen. Lyft, for example, saw a 26 percent increase in this category between 2017–2019 and 2020–2022.

 

Litigation Trends: A Wave of Cases

The study tracks the rapid escalation of lawsuits against Uber.

  • As of July 2025, there were 2,359 sexual assault lawsuits pending in federal multidistrict litigation.

  • This figure followed a surge of 878 new cases in September 2024, 283 in April 2025, and 190 in July 2025.

  • The first Uber sexual assault trial is scheduled for December 2025.

While some claims—such as product liability arguments that Uber's app failed to prevent high-risk pairings—have been dismissed, the majority of allegations remain active. The study notes that litigation is increasingly focused on whether rideshare companies misrepresented safety in their marketing, particularly campaigns positioning Uber as a “designated driver” alternative.

 

Victim and Perpetrator Profiles

The study's data analysis reveals consistent patterns across reported cases:

  • 68 percent of assaults were attributed to drivers.

  • 31 percent were attributed to riders.

  • 1 percent involved third parties.

When focusing on non-consensual sexual penetration:

  • 89 percent of victims were women, most between the ages of 18–29.

  • 8 percent of victims were men.

  • 90 percent of perpetrators were drivers.

Other categories show similar imbalances:

  • 87 percent of attempted non-consensual penetration cases involved drivers.

  • For non-consensual touching of a sexual body part, 59 percent of perpetrators were drivers, 40 percent riders, and 1 percent third parties.

  • For non-consensual kissing of a non-sexual body part, 84 percent of perpetrators were drivers.

The overwhelming conclusion: women, particularly young women, are disproportionately victimized, and male drivers between 30–45 years old make up the majority of accused perpetrators.

 

Timing and Circumstances

The study highlights that assaults most often occur:

  • Late at night,

  • When victims are intoxicated,

  • And when they are traveling alone.

These risk factors have been reinforced by multiple academic studies and align with broader criminological data on vulnerability in public and semi-private spaces.

 

Fatalities and Escalation

While sexual assault numbers have declined overall, the study notes a troubling rise in fatal physical assaults. Between 2021 and 2022, Uber reported an increase in fatalities:

  • 61 percent of victims were drivers.

  • 39 percent were riders.

  • Nearly half of perpetrators were third parties, not directly affiliated with the platform.

Lyft reported a 185 percent increase in fatal physical assaults between 2017–2019 and 2020–2022, underscoring that the risks extend beyond sexual violence to broader safety concerns.

 

Geographic Hotspots

According to the study, rideshare-related assaults are concentrated in states with both high population density and high rideshare usage. California, Texas, Florida, and New York consistently report the highest rates of incidents.

However, the study also notes that inconsistent reporting standards across states make it difficult to capture a full national picture. Federal databases track some assaults, but state-level transparency remains uneven.

 

Background Checks and Policy Gaps

The study scrutinizes the vetting processes for drivers. Both Uber and Lyft disqualify applicants with recent driving violations, violent crimes, or sexual offenses. Yet differences remain:

  • Lyft permanently rejects drivers with many felony convictions, regardless of how long ago they occurred.

  • Uber generally applies a seven-year rule, after which certain convictions (fraud, drug offenses, property damage) are considered “spent” for eligibility.

The study points out that background checks often miss prior complaints, non-conviction records, or incidents outside the U.S. Moreover, ongoing monitoring after onboarding is limited, leaving gaps in oversight.

 

Regulatory and Legislative Responses

The study highlights several regulatory developments:

  • Sami's Law, signed in 2020, requires rideshare companies to issue drivers with visible identification markers to prevent impersonation.

  • The California Public Utilities Commission fined Uber $59 million for failing to disclose additional assault data, later settling for $9 million toward safety initiatives.

  • In July 2025, Lyft agreed to a $25 million settlement with shareholders over disclosures related to assault incidents.

Despite these measures, the study argues that transparency remains inconsistent. Uber has released multiple safety reports, while Lyft has yet to commit to regular reporting.

 

The Rise of Impersonation Attacks

The study also flags a growing trend of fake rideshare drivers. In July 2025, Chicago reported its second early-hours assault in a matter of months involving an impersonator. These cases highlight the need for stronger passenger verification tools, such as QR code scanning or enhanced in-app vehicle matching.

 

Patterns in Litigation Outcomes

The study notes that courts are increasingly scrutinizing whether rideshare companies adequately warned passengers of risks. Plaintiffs argue that marketing campaigns portraying Uber and Lyft as safe alternatives to drunk driving failed to disclose the heightened risks faced by intoxicated passengers, particularly women traveling alone at night.

Legal experts suggest that future litigation may hinge on whether companies are required to disclose driver misconduct histories directly in the app, alongside names, photos, and star ratings.

 

Recommendations for Safer Rideshare

The study concludes with several recommendations:

  • Expand background checks to include all prior misdemeanors and non-conviction complaints.

  • Implement continuous monitoring of drivers, not just pre-hire checks.

  • Enhance transparency by publishing disaggregated safety data annually.

  • Introduce stronger in-app safety features, such as real-time monitoring, emergency alerts, and visible misconduct histories.

  • Standardize reporting requirements across states to create a comprehensive national database.

 

Conclusion

The study conducted by Chaikin Trial Group makes clear that rideshare-related sexual assault is not an isolated issue but a systemic one. While overall assault numbers have declined, the most serious categories are rising, fatalities are increasing, and litigation is mounting. With more than 2,300 lawsuits pending against Uber and a growing body of evidence pointing to consistent patterns of risk, the rideshare industry faces a reckoning.

The data underscores a simple truth: without stronger safeguards, transparency, and accountability, the convenience of ridesharing will remain overshadowed by the persistent threat of sexual assault and violence.