A Houston Uber and Lyft sexual assault lawyer represents survivors of sexual violence committed by rideshare drivers. At Amaro Law Firm, our attorneys offer confidential consultations to survivors and their families, and pursue civil claims against the rideshare companies whose safety systems failed them — alongside individual claims against the drivers responsible.
In Texas, adult survivors of sexual assault generally have five years to file a civil claim under Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.0045(b) — significantly longer than the standard two-year personal injury deadline. Survivors who were minors at the time of the assault have up to 30 years from the date of conduct, effectively until their 48th birthday, under § 16.0045(a). Federal litigation is moving forward: the consolidated In Re: Uber Technologies, Inc., Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation (MDL No. 3084) in the Northern District of California now includes more than 3,400 cases, with the first federal bellwether trial producing an $8.5 million compensatory verdict against Uber in February 2026. A separate Lyft MDL was approved in February 2026. Amaro Law Firm represents survivors on a contingency fee basis. All consultations are confidential. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Compiled by Amaro Law Firm — Texas-licensed trial attorneys serving Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and survivors across Texas. Spanish-language services available.
A Note for Survivors
If you or someone you love was assaulted in an Uber or Lyft, we recognize that reading this page may not be easy. You do not have to make any decisions today. You do not have to speak to a lawyer today.
If you need immediate support:
- RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline — call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat at hotline.rainn.org — available 24/7, free, and confidential.
- Texas Association Against Sexual Assault — statewide resource directory at taasa.org.
- If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
When you are ready — whenever that is — we are here. Our consultations are confidential. Nothing you share with us will be disclosed without your permission. We will explain your legal options honestly, without pressure, and let you decide what to do next.
Texas Law and Rideshare Sexual Assault
Two pieces of Texas law shape the civil deadlines for rideshare sexual assault cases — and both give survivors significantly more time than the standard personal injury deadline.
For adult survivors (assaults occurring at age 18 or older), Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.0045(b) provides a five-year statute of limitations for civil claims arising from sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, trafficking, and certain related offenses. This is two and a half times longer than the two-year personal injury deadline in § 16.003 that applies to ordinary tort claims.
For survivors who were minors at the time of the assault, § 16.0045(a) provides a 30-year civil statute of limitations from the date the cause of action accrues. Because the limitations period is tolled during minority, the 30-year clock effectively does not begin running until the survivor turns 18 — giving survivors until age 48 to file suit.
Statutes of limitations changed in Texas in 2015 and again in 2019 (under House Bill 3809). The applicable deadline generally depends on the law in effect at the time of the conduct. Some pre-2019 cases may operate under the prior 15-year window for child survivors. A lawyer can confirm which deadline applies to your specific situation.
Texas Transportation Network Company Act. Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2402 governs Uber, Lyft, and other transportation network companies (TNCs) operating in Texas. The Act imposes driver vetting, insurance, and operational requirements. Violations of these statutory requirements can support negligence-per-se theories in civil litigation.
The Federal Uber Litigation: MDL No. 3084
Civil litigation against Uber has been consolidated in federal court. On October 4, 2023, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized federal sexual assault cases against Uber in the Northern District of California before U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer. The case is In Re: Uber Technologies, Inc., Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation, MDL No. 3084.
Key facts about the litigation:
- More than 3,400 cases consolidated as of mid-2026, with the docket continuing to grow.
- First federal bellwether trial verdict, February 5, 2026: a federal jury awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages to plaintiff Jaylynn Dean, who alleged she was raped by an Uber driver in Arizona. No punitive damages were awarded in this verdict.
- Non-delegable duty ruling: the court has ruled that Uber owes a non-delegable duty to passengers — a significant rejection of Uber’s argument that its drivers are independent contractors for purposes of liability.
- Uber’s own safety reports document 12,522 sexual assault reports across 2017–2022 in the five most severe categories. Plaintiffs argue this internal data establishes the company knew about systemic risk to passengers and failed to act.
- Second bellwether trial began in April 2026 involving a plaintiff who alleges she was assaulted by an Uber driver in North Carolina.
- Qualified settlement fund was established in late 2025, suggesting the parties are positioning for potential global resolution — though no settlement amount has been publicly announced.
Texas survivors may be eligible to join the MDL. Whether MDL participation, individual federal court litigation, or Texas state court litigation is the right strategy depends on the specific facts of the case.
The Federal Lyft Litigation
Lyft sexual assault cases have followed a similar path. In February 2026, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation approved a separate Lyft MDL, assigned to U.S. District Judge Rita Lin. The Lyft proceeding is in earlier stages than the Uber MDL, but is moving forward on a parallel track.
In a related development, a federal magistrate judge in the Uber MDL ordered Lyft — as a third party — to produce sexual misconduct records for drivers who drove for both Uber and Lyft. This cross-platform discovery is significant: drivers terminated by one platform may have continued working for the other, and the records can establish a pattern of company knowledge across the rideshare industry.
How Rideshare Sexual Assault Cases Establish Company Liability
Civil claims against Uber and Lyft generally rely on several overlapping legal theories. Identifying the strongest theories for each case is the central work of a rideshare sexual assault lawyer.
Negligent hiring and retention. Uber and Lyft rely on third-party background check vendors (Checkr for Uber) to vet drivers. These checks have well-documented limitations:
- Background checks typically reach back only seven years
- Checks are largely conducted at hire, not continuously — though both companies claim to re-run them periodically
- Checks rely on database matches, which can miss county-level or out-of-jurisdiction records
- Records from outside the United States are often unavailable
- Pending charges, expunged records, and recent arrests may not surface
Failure to warn. When Uber or Lyft received complaints about a specific driver — particularly safety complaints — and continued to allow that driver to access passengers, the company can be liable for failing to warn or remove the driver before subsequent incidents.
Common carrier and non-delegable duty. The MDL court’s ruling that Uber owes a non-delegable duty to passengers significantly strengthens the legal foundation for company-level claims. Even where Uber argues drivers are independent contractors, the company cannot delegate its duty to provide reasonable safety for passengers it transports.
Negligence per se under the Texas Transportation Network Company Act. Violations of the statutory vetting and operational requirements of Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2402 can support negligence-per-se theories.
Misrepresentation and consumer protection claims. Uber and Lyft market themselves as safer than traditional transportation. Where that marketing creates passenger reliance and the underlying safety systems materially failed, consumer protection claims may apply.
Direct claims against the driver. The driver who committed the assault can be sued individually for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment. Driver claims may proceed alongside company claims.
The Arbitration Clause Issue
Both Uber and Lyft historically included forced arbitration clauses in their user terms of service. These clauses required disputes to be resolved through individual arbitration rather than civil litigation — a significant disadvantage to survivors.
That landscape changed substantially in 2022 with the federal Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021, signed into law on March 3, 2022. The Act, codified at 9 U.S.C. § 401 et seq., allows survivors to invalidate pre-dispute arbitration agreements in cases involving sexual assault and sexual harassment. Survivors can elect to proceed in court rather than be forced into arbitration — at the survivor’s option.
Some rideshare sexual assault cases predating the 2022 Act, or with complex procedural histories, still face arbitration disputes. A lawyer can analyze whether the Act applies to your specific case.
What to Do After a Rideshare Sexual Assault
If you are reading this page in the aftermath of an incident, you may be looking for guidance on what to do next. Every survivor’s situation is different, and there is no single right answer — but these steps preserve options:
- Get to a safe place. Your physical safety comes first.
- Reach out for support. RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE) provides 24/7 confidential support and can connect you with local resources.
- Consider medical care. A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) can provide care and, if you choose, collect a forensic exam (sometimes called a “rape kit”) that can be preserved without you being required to report to law enforcement immediately. SANE exams are time-sensitive — generally most useful within 120 hours — but care is available beyond that window.
- Preserve digital records. Screenshot the trip details in the Uber or Lyft app, including the driver’s name, vehicle, and trip times. Save text messages, app notifications, and any communications with the rideshare company. Do not delete the trip from your history.
- Reporting to law enforcement is your choice. You are not legally required to report. Reporting can preserve evidence and create a contemporaneous record, but the decision belongs to you.
- Report to Uber or Lyft separately if you choose. Internal reports to the rideshare company are often discoverable in civil litigation and can establish company notice. This is separate from any criminal report.
- Speak with a lawyer when you are ready. Initial consultations are confidential. A lawyer can preserve evidence requests, advise on deadlines, and explain your legal options without committing you to anything.
What Civil Litigation Can and Cannot Do
Civil litigation cannot undo what happened. We want to be honest about that.
What civil litigation can do is provide accountability, validation, and material resources. Recovery in a successful case may include:
- Past and future medical expenses, including therapy and mental health treatment
- Past and future lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages, in cases of egregious conduct
- Confidential settlements, where the survivor prefers to keep details private
For survivors who choose civil litigation, the goal is not just compensation but also the establishment of a record — a finding that what happened was wrong, that the survivor’s account was believed, and that the entities responsible were held accountable. For some survivors, that record is as meaningful as the financial recovery.
How Amaro Law Firm Handles Rideshare Sexual Assault Cases
Our process is designed to give survivors control and to handle every case with the care it deserves.
Step 1: Confidential intake. We begin with a confidential consultation — by phone, video, or in person, at your preference. We will not share what you tell us without your permission. The consultation is free and does not commit you to anything.
Step 2: Trip and platform evidence preservation. Trip data, in-app communications, and driver records are critical evidence. We send formal preservation letters to Uber or Lyft demanding preservation of the relevant records before the company’s standard retention periods expire.
Step 3: Background and pattern investigation. Where possible, we investigate the driver’s history with the platform — prior complaints, prior incidents, and pattern evidence that supports company-level liability claims.
Step 4: Strategic forum decision. We help you decide whether the MDL, federal individual litigation, or Texas state court is the right forum for your case. Each path has different procedural rules, different timelines, and different settlement dynamics.
Step 5: Coordination with specialized counsel where appropriate. Complex MDL participation often warrants coordination with national rideshare sexual assault counsel. We coordinate with experienced specialists where doing so positions the case for the best result.
Step 6: Negotiation and litigation. We pursue the case as your circumstances and goals direct. Some survivors want a public trial; others prefer confidential resolution. We work with you to choose the path that serves you.
Why Choose Amaro Law Firm
- Confidential consultations. Nothing you share with us will be disclosed without your permission. This applies to initial consultations and continues throughout representation.
- Trauma-informed approach. We understand that sexual assault cases are different. Our process is designed to give survivors control, minimize re-traumatization, and respect each survivor’s pace.
- Trial attorneys. Our litigators have experience taking cases through state district courts, federal courts, and the Texas Courts of Appeals.
- Houston-based. Our principal office is at 2500 E T C Jester Blvd in Houston, with attorneys familiar with Harris County district courts and the federal courts in the Southern District of Texas.
- Spanish-language services. Confidential consultations are available in Spanish through Abogado Amaro.
- No fee unless we win. Our rideshare sexual assault lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Houston Uber & Lyft Sexual Assault FAQ
How long do I have to file a civil claim against Uber or Lyft for sexual assault in Texas?
In Texas, adult survivors of sexual assault generally have five years to file a civil claim under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.0045(b) — significantly longer than the standard two-year personal injury deadline. Survivors who were minors at the time of the assault have up to 30 years from the date of conduct, effectively until their 48th birthday, under § 16.0045(a). Statutes of limitations changed in 2015 and 2019, and the applicable deadline depends on the law in effect at the time of the conduct.
Can I still file a civil claim if I did not report the assault to the police?
Yes. Civil claims and criminal cases are separate. Reporting to law enforcement can preserve evidence and create a contemporaneous record, but it is not a legal requirement for filing a civil lawsuit. The decision whether to report belongs to the survivor.
What is the Uber MDL?
The Uber MDL is the consolidated federal litigation pending in the Northern District of California as In Re: Uber Technologies, Inc., Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation, MDL No. 3084. Centralized in October 2023 before U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer, the MDL now includes more than 3,400 cases. The first federal bellwether trial produced an $8.5 million compensatory verdict against Uber in February 2026. The court has ruled that Uber owes a non-delegable duty to passengers.
Is there a similar litigation against Lyft?
Yes. In February 2026, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation approved a separate Lyft MDL before U.S. District Judge Rita Lin. The Lyft proceeding is in earlier stages than the Uber MDL but is moving forward on a parallel track.
Do I have to go through arbitration because of Uber or Lyft’s terms of service?
For most current cases, no. The federal Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021, signed into law on March 3, 2022, allows survivors to invalidate pre-dispute arbitration agreements in cases involving sexual assault and sexual harassment. Survivors can elect to proceed in court rather than be forced into arbitration — at the survivor’s option. Some cases with complex procedural histories may still face arbitration disputes, and a lawyer can analyze whether the Act applies to your specific case.
How can Uber or Lyft be liable when the driver — not the company — committed the assault?
Civil claims against Uber and Lyft generally rely on several overlapping legal theories: negligent hiring and retention (the company hired or retained a driver who posed a known risk), failure to warn (the company received complaints about the driver and did not act), common carrier and non-delegable duty (the company owes passengers a safety duty it cannot delegate to drivers), negligence per se under the Texas Transportation Network Company Act, and misrepresentation and consumer protection claims. The Uber MDL court has ruled that Uber owes a non-delegable duty to passengers — a significant strengthening of the legal foundation for company-level claims.
What damages can a rideshare sexual assault survivor recover?
Recovery in a successful case may include past and future medical expenses (including therapy and mental health treatment), past and future lost wages and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and — in cases of egregious conduct — punitive damages.
Will my identity be protected if I file a lawsuit?
In many sexual assault civil cases, plaintiffs can proceed under pseudonyms (such as “Jane Doe”) or with court-protective orders that limit public disclosure of the plaintiff’s identity. Confidentiality protections vary by court and case, but courts generally recognize the legitimate privacy interests of sexual assault survivors. A lawyer can explain the protections available in your specific case.
How much does a rideshare sexual assault lawyer cost?
Amaro Law Firm handles rideshare sexual assault cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. There are no upfront costs and no hourly fees. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, agreed to in writing before we start.
What if I do not want to file a lawsuit yet — can I still talk to a lawyer?
Yes. Consultations are confidential and do not commit you to any action. We will explain your legal options and let you decide whether and when to move forward. If preserving the option to file later matters, a lawyer can also discuss what evidence preservation steps are time-sensitive and whether anything should be done now to protect your rights down the road.
Resources for Survivors
Whether or not you choose to pursue legal action, the following organizations provide free, confidential support:
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) — National Sexual Assault Hotline, 800-656-HOPE (4673), 24/7 confidential support. Online chat at hotline.rainn.org.
- Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) — statewide resource directory and survivor support at taasa.org.
- Houston Area Women’s Center — Houston-area crisis support and advocacy at hawc.org, with a 24/7 hotline.
- The Bridge Over Troubled Waters — sexual assault services for the greater Houston area.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline — 800-799-SAFE (7233), 24/7 confidential support for survivors of intimate partner violence and related abuse.
Talk to a Houston Rideshare Sexual Assault Lawyer When You Are Ready
You have time. Texas law gives adult survivors five years to bring a civil claim, and child survivors until age 48. Federal litigation is moving forward against both Uber and Lyft. The legal landscape has shifted significantly in survivors’ favor over the last several years — most importantly with the 2022 Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act and the Uber MDL’s non-delegable duty ruling.
Whenever you are ready, Amaro Law Firm offers free, confidential consultations. We will explain your legal options without pressure, in your language, at your pace. You pay nothing unless we win your case.