Rideshare services like Uber® and Lyft® were designed to provide users with a safe, convenient trip to their destination. However, riders may be at risk of abuse and harassment by their drivers, leading some to pursue rideshare lawsuits.
In fact, Uber received over 10,000 sexual assault complaints from 2017 to 2020, according to the company’s safety reports. No additional reports have been made public since 2020.
These companies may fall short when it comes to implementing rideshare safety practices, but there are several steps passengers can take to protect themselves from harm.
Find out more about known safety issues as well as 8 vital rideshare safety tips to keep yourself safe.
If you or a loved one was assaulted by a rideshare driver, we may be able to file a lawsuit against Uber or Lyft on your behalf.
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Safety Issues with Uber and Lyft
Amidst growing reports of assaults and injuries, the safety of rideshare platforms has become a concern for many users, with some reconsidering their transportation options.
Lawsuits against Uber and Lyft claim these companies haven’t taken the necessary precautions to protect riders, leading to instances of non-consensual contact, kidnapping, and violence.
Lyft and Uber safety issues may include:
- Failing to properly screen potential drivers by not requiring them to be fingerprinted before joining the platform
- Not removing abusive drivers from the apps, even if there’s a history of complaints against them from previous passengers
Women often face a higher risk of assault by rideshare drivers. Of the 191 rapes reported to Uber in 2020, 81% of the victims were women.
Because of these safety concerns, riders must be informed about the best ways to reduce the risk of assault while using rideshare apps.
Protecting Yourself During a Ride: 8 Lyft & Uber Safety Tips
Despite recent efforts by Lyft and Uber to improve women’s safety, instances of abuse and harassment during rides continue to occur.
Here are 8 essential safety tips to empower rideshare users, so you can feel protected throughout your journey.
1. Verify Your Ride
When you request a ride using Uber or Lyft and your ride has been accepted, you’ll receive information on the driver and their car.
When the ride arrives, make sure your driver’s information matches what’s on the app to ensure you’re getting in the correct car. This includes the license plate of the car they’re driving and the appearance of their vehicle.
As an extra precaution, you should also ask the driver to tell you their name or the name of the person they’re there to pick up before entering the car.
In October 2023, a Boston woman was attacked after getting in a car she believed was an Uber. The driver, who was not associated with a rideshare company, brought her to a different location before he sexually assaulted her.
2. Share Your Trip Details with Someone You Trust
Both Uber and Lyft offer riders the opportunity to share the status of their trip with a friend or family member. This allows whoever you shared the trip with to track where you are in real time.
When you’re sent the details of your trip, share this information with someone you trust. This may include the:
- Destination and estimated time of arrival
- Driver’s name and photo
- Make, model, and license plate of the car
You may also want to screenshot and share your trip information with someone via text. If a driver cancels your ride at any point, even if you’re already in the car, their information may disappear from the app.
3. Ride in the Back Seat
If you’re getting into an Uber or Lyft, sit in the back seat whenever possible. This will create space between you and the driver, which could lessen the chances of an assault taking place.
When entering the back seat of a car, consider checking the child safety lock feature. There should be a small lever on the inside of the door:
- If it’s pushed up, this feature is off.
- If the lever is down, the safety lock has been activated, and you may not be able to exit the vehicle on your own.
If there are multiple riders in your group, the front seat may be the only space in the car that’s available. Still, having other passengers present during the ride may also reduce the risk of an assault taking place.
4. Be Aware of Your Surroundings
If you’re familiar with the area where your ride is taking place, keep an eye on the streets and places around you to make sure your driver is going to the correct location.
When using Uber or Lyft in a new area, you can also track the route on your phone’s map to give you peace of mind that your driver is taking the right turns to arrive at your destination.
If you believe your driver is going somewhere other than your intended destination, consider asking where they’re going or calling someone who may be waiting for you.
If the driver is aware that someone is expecting you, it may serve as a deterrent.
5. Don’t Share Personal Information
While you can have a friendly conversation with your driver, you shouldn’t share personal information like your:
- Home address
- Phone number
- Workplace
The driver may use this information to stalk or harass you in the future, even if they didn’t seem dangerous during your ride together.
While Uber and Lyft prevent drivers from accessing a passenger’s phone number and conceal pickup and dropoff locations on the app, it doesn’t mean that drivers won’t remember an address if they see it while you’re getting out of the car.
To further protect your privacy, you can select a nearby address to get dropped off at and walk a short distance to your actual destination.
6. Trust Your Instincts
If something about your ride feels wrong, don’t hesitate to take action or seek help by:
- Calling someone during your ride, so your driver knows someone is aware of what’s going on
- Canceling the ride at any time on your rideshare app
- Asking the driver to pull over
- Exiting the vehicle when safe to do so
You can also cancel your ride before you get in the car if you see that your assigned driver received poor reviews from other passengers.
7. Call for Help
Lyft and Uber have partnered with ADT®, a security company that can provide discrete help to riders who are afraid for their safety.
“If you ever feel uncomfortable on a trip but aren’t in an emergency situation, you can tap the safety shield icon, select Contact safety agent, and get help from a trained ADT agent — either on the phone or silently via text. If the situation escalates, ADT can call 911 for you.”
– Uber
You can also contact the police directly by using the emergency button in your app. This button allows you to share details about your trip and current location with the dispatcher.
8. Report Abuse or Harassment
If you were abused or harassed by a Lyft or Uber driver, you should report the driver to the rideshare company as soon as it’s safe to do so.
By informing the company about the incident, their support team may be able to provide you with resources and remove the driver from the app’s platform. Reporting a driver may prevent future riders from experiencing abuse from this driver.
Get Help Filing a Lyft or Uber Safety Lawsuit
At Sokolove Law, we can help you hold rideshare companies accountable for the pain you’ve experienced by filing a Lyft or Uber safety lawsuit on your behalf.
Our attorneys have over 45 years of experience fighting for victims of injustice, including those who have experienced sexual assault or abuse.
By filing a rideshare abuse lawsuit, you may be able to secure compensation that can help pay for medical bills, therapy, pain and suffering, and more.
We’ve secured over $9.6 Billion total for families across the country. There are no hourly fees or out-of-pocket costs to work with our team.
Safety in Uber and Lyft rides shouldn’t be compromised just so these companies can save money and continue to quickly hire new drivers.
Let us fight for the justice you deserve. Call (800) 995-1212 now or fill out our contact form for a free, no-obligation case review.
