New York Sexual Assault by Uber and Lyft Drivers

When you summoned a ride through an app on your phone, you placed your trust in a global corporation to provide a safe passage. A sexual assault by an Uber or Lyft driver in New York shatters that trust and is a violent criminal act that leaves lasting harm. 

You are not defined by what another person did to you. You possess the right and the strength to hold these powerful rideshare companies accountable for their profound safety failures. A civil lawsuit is a tool to expose corporate negligence and secure the resources necessary for your healing. 

The legal system provides a formal path to pursue justice on your own terms.

• A civil lawsuit is an action you control, separate from any criminal case against the driver.
• Rideshare corporations are legally obligated to implement effective driver screening and passenger safety protocols.
• Your voice, amplified by legal action, forces change and protects future riders from similar harm.

Holding a corporation liable in a court of law is a powerful declaration that passenger safety is not subordinate to corporate profits.

Corporate Responsibility in a New York Uber or Lyft Assault Case

Uber and Lyft are not passive digital platforms; they are sophisticated, multi-billion dollar transportation companies controlling nearly every facet of their service. 

They profit from every single ride, whether it ends safely in front of a Brooklyn brownstone or results in a violent assault. This market control comes with a serious legal obligation, known as a duty of care, to protect passengers. 

When their actions, or lack thereof, lead to harm, they are liable for the consequences. This liability is typically rooted in negligence, a legal term for the failure to use reasonable care, which for a company of this size and scope, is a very high standard. Victims in such cases can seek justice and compensation with the help of a New York sexual abuse lawyer, who understands the complexities of these claims and fights to hold negligent parties accountable.

These corporations must do more than run a superficial check. They have the resources and the data to properly vet and monitor their drivers. A civil lawsuit seeks to uncover exactly where they failed. 

Did they ignore a driver’s disturbing history? Did they cut corners on background checks to expand their driver pool more quickly? These are not just procedural questions; they are at the heart of establishing corporate liability.

1. Negligent hiring and screening: This occurs when a company hires a driver without a thorough background check that would have revealed a criminal past, a history of restraining orders, or other significant red flags that showed they were unfit to transport the public.
2. Failure to monitor and supervise: These companies collect immense data on their drivers, including rider feedback, ratings, and complaints. A failure to act on reports of inappropriate comments, reckless driving, or other alarming behavior before an assault occurs is a form of negligence.
3. Negligent retention: This legal principle applies when a company keeps a driver active on its platform after it knew, or reasonably should have known, that the driver posed a danger. Keeping a dangerous driver on the road for profit is a direct breach of their duty to passenger safety.

The law does not view a corporation’s choice to ignore known dangers as a simple mistake, but as a direct and actionable cause of a survivor's injuries.

The 'Independent Contractor' Defense and How We Fight It

Rideshare companies will almost certainly try to distance themselves from the driver’s actions. Their primary defense strategy is to argue that drivers are not employees, but independent contractors. 

They do this to try and evade legal responsibility for the driver's conduct. However, this defense is frequently challenged and defeated in court, especially in sexual assault cases. The level of control a company like Uber or Lyft exerts over its drivers often looks much more like an employer-employee relationship.

An attorney experienced in these specific cases knows how to dismantle this defense by demonstrating the company's pervasive control over the driver’s work. We investigate and present evidence that shows the company dictates the terms of the entire operation, leaving the driver with very little true independence.

• Control over fares and payment: The company, not the driver, sets the price of every ride and controls the entire payment process.
• Performance metrics and termination: The company imposes detailed performance standards, such as acceptance rates and star ratings, and can deactivate, or fire, a driver for failing to meet them.
• Route and rider allocation: The app's algorithm dictates which driver gets which rider and often suggests the route, limiting the driver's autonomy.

By proving this extensive control, we argue that the company cannot use the "independent contractor" label as a shield to escape its fundamental responsibility to keep you safe.

Why Choose Horowitz Law for Your Uber and Lyft Assault Claim

Horowitz Law is a firm with a singular, resolute mission: to provide powerful legal representation to survivors of sexual abuse and assault. We do not accept cases involving car accidents, medical malpractice, or any other area of personal injury law. 

This exclusive dedication means our entire team, resources, and strategies are honed for one purpose: achieving justice for survivors. We confront powerful institutions and corporations, including rideshare giants like Uber and Lyft, to demand full accountability for our clients. 

Our approach is direct, forceful, and centered entirely on you and your objectives.

We were founded on the principle that every survivor deserves an advocate who will fight for them with uncompromising strength. When we accept a case, we commit our firm’s full force to it.

1. Exclusive focus on sexual abuse: Our practice is 100% dedicated to sexual assault and abuse litigation. This is all we do, and this focus gives our clients a distinct advantage.
2. A record of corporate accountability: We have a proven history of taking on large, well-funded corporations and institutions and holding them responsible for policies and negligence that enable abuse.
3. A survivor-centered strategy: Your story is heard with respect. Your strength is recognized. Your pursuit of justice is the sole driver of our legal strategy from start to finish.

True advocacy is measured not just by a final result but by the relentless dedication shown to the person we are fighting for.

Preserving Evidence for a Strong Civil Case

The moments after an assault are chaotic, but the digital footprint created by the rideshare transaction is a permanent and powerful source of evidence. These apps and the corporate servers behind them contain a wealth of data central to building an undeniable case for liability. 

A legal team immediately works to preserve this information before the company can alter or delete it. This is often done by sending a formal evidence preservation or spoliation letter, which legally demands that the company not destroy any relevant data.

This evidence forms a factual, objective timeline and exposes the company’s knowledge and control. It provides the unarguable proof needed to support your testimony and build a case that can stand up to the most aggressive corporate defense tactics.

• Digital ride records: Your ride history within the app contains the driver's name, photograph, vehicle information, and license plate. Screenshot this information immediately.
• Geolocation and telemetry data: Uber and Lyft's servers store precise GPS data for the entire ride, including the route taken, speed, and any unplanned stops or deviations. This is irrefutable evidence.
• Internal company records: Through the legal process of discovery, we demand access to the driver’s full file, including all prior complaints, rider feedback, internal notes, and the results of their background check.

This objective data creates a foundation of facts that cannot be disputed, making it the bedrock of a successful legal strategy against a corporate giant.

Your Path to Justice Through the Courts

Taking legal action is a definitive step to reclaim your own narrative. It transforms you from a person who was acted upon into a plaintiff, the one who is driving the action and demanding justice. 

A lawsuit against Uber or Lyft is about more than a single incident. It is a challenge to a business model that may have prioritized rapid expansion over the fundamental safety of the people it serves, from tourists near Times Square to residents of every neighborhood. 

The civil justice system provides the formal setting to force these companies to answer for their safety failures. Your courage to move forward has a ripple effect. It creates pressure for systemic change, compelling these companies to improve their screening processes, take passenger complaints seriously, and implement meaningful safety features that will protect others in the future.

• You remain in control of your lawsuit, and all major decisions are made only with your informed consent.
• The legal process, known as discovery, is designed to uncover the truth about a company's internal policies and what its executives knew about the driver.
• A significant financial verdict or settlement is a powerful motivator that forces a corporation to re-evaluate its priorities and change its behavior.

The pursuit of justice through the courts is a powerful testament to a survivor's resilience and a direct demand for a safer community.

Frequently Asked Questions About New York Rideshare Assault Lawsuits

Take Action Today

If you were sexually assaulted by a rideshare driver in New York, speak with a legal team that is prepared to fight for you. Contact Horowitz Law to begin the process of holding the responsible corporation accountable. 

Your consultation is completely confidential and without obligation. Call our office at (954) 641-2100 or use our secure online contact form.