Every day, riders across North Texas open an app, climb into a stranger’s car, and trust that the company behind it chose that driver carefully. For survivors of rideshare sexual assault, that trust collapsed in a horrifying way—and they deserve justice.
Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP represents those survivors in civil claims against drivers and the companies that put them on the road. Our Dallas sexual assault victim lawyers serve clients in Dallas, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Collin County, and Denton County.
Can You Sue Uber or Lyft for Sexual Assault in Texas?
Survivors can bring civil claims against Uber or Lyft, the driver, or both the company and the driver. The path to court is wider than it once was.
In 2018, both Uber and Lyft dropped mandatory arbitration for individual sexual assault claims. Congress later passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, which gives survivors the choice to go to court even if they signed an arbitration agreement.
That means you may be able to sue Uber for sexual assault in Dallas in open court, and a Lyft sexual assault attorney in Texas can pursue similar claims against Lyft.
How Rideshare Companies Become Liable for Driver Assaults
Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, and Texas’s rideshare statute generally permits that arrangement. Because of this, a company usually isn’t liable just because its driver committed an assault.
Instead, most claims examine the company’s choices—such as who the company approved to drive, how it handled rider complaints, and whether it removed drivers who had been reported—and whether those choices put riders in danger.
“Rideshare companies sell safety as part of the product. Riders are told their driver has been vetted. If that promise turns out to be empty, the company should have to answer for it.” – Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP
Negligent Hiring and Background Check Failures
Texas law requires rideshare companies to run local, state, and national criminal background checks before a driver can log in, including a search of the national sex offender website. A background check, however, is only as reliable as the process behind it.
Negligent hiring claims ask whether the company approved a driver it should have rejected, skipped or rushed screening steps, or kept a driver active after warning signs appeared. An Uber/Lyft negligent hiring attorney in Dallas at Crowe Arnold & Majors looks closely at what the company knew and when, because the most important records are usually inside the company. Documents such as earlier rider complaints, internal safety reports, and a deactivation that was reversed tell a story.
Dallas Lawyers Who Listen and Stand With Survivors
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe nothing unless the firm recovers compensation on your behalf.
If you were sexually assaulted during an Uber or Lyft ride, schedule a free, confidential consultation with a Dallas sexual assault attorney from our team. We’ll listen to what happened, answer your questions, and explain your options, with no pressure to move forward until you’re ready.
What happened to you is not your fault. Many people use rideshare services specifically to get home safely, including after a night out. If you had been drinking, fell asleep, or were alone in the car, none of that makes you responsible for what someone else chose to do. Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies have a responsibility to protect the passengers who trust them, and when they fail to do so, they may be held accountable. Many of these assaults involve preventable failures, such as inadequate driver background checks, failing to act on prior complaints, allowing removed drivers back onto the platform, or weak safety protections within the app. In some cases, a rideshare company may be liable even if the driver who committed the assault was never charged or convicted.
Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP has over 25 years of personal injury experience. We handle every case with discretion and respect, and we work to protect your privacy throughout the legal process. Rideshare companies often argue they aren’t responsible because their drivers are independent contractors. We know how these companies defend themselves, and when they or their insurers refuse to take responsibility, we do not hesitate to take matters to trial. Our law firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
If you would like to talk with a member of our team, you can call us confidentially at (214) 231-0555. During your free consultation, we will walk you through what to expect at a pace that feels right for you. If you can’t come to our office, one of our attorneys can meet you somewhere you feel comfortable. You don’t have to go through this alone.
John W. Arnold,
Partner, Trial and Appellate Attorney
With over 25 years of experience, John is a seasoned trial and appellate attorney known for delivering results.
David W. Crowe
Partner, Personal Injury
For more than 30 years, David has been a powerful advocate and fighting for individuals harmed by negligence and abuse.
D.G. Majors
Trial Attorney, Personal Injury and Product Liability
D.G. is a trial lawyer with a strong track record of results in personal injury, product liability, and commercial litigation.
Individual Driver Liability vs. Corporate Liability
A rideshare sexual assault claim can involve two very different defendants, with each responsible for a different part of what happened, and understanding the difference helps shape a stronger case:
- The driver: The driver can be held personally responsible for assault and battery. Individual drivers, though, rarely have the resources to cover the full cost of a survivor’s losses.
- The company: The company can be held responsible for its own negligence in screening drivers, supervising them, and responding to complaints. Claims against the company can also reach insurance coverage that individual drivers typically lack.
Naming both the driver and the company is often the clearest path to full accountability.
These cases also share important features with other claims involving sexual assault in a professional service context, where a business placed someone in a position of trust.
What Damages Can Survivors Recover in a Civil Lawsuit?
The harm from a sexual assault reaches well beyond the ride itself. A civil claim puts a financial value on those losses and asks the responsible parties to pay them.
A rideshare sexual assault lawsuit in Texas may seek damages for:
- Counseling, therapy, and medical care
- Lost wages and reduced ability to work
- Mental anguish, fear, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Exemplary damages in cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct
Our verdicts and settlements recovered for survivors include $3.3 million and $1.2 million sexual assault settlements. Neither involved a rideshare company, but both show how we hold businesses accountable. (Past results do not predict future outcomes.)
Do You Need a Police Report to File a Civil Claim?
Many survivors choose not to report to police, and a civil claim can move forward without a report, an arrest, or a conviction. Survivors may also be able to file under a pseudonym, such as Jane Doe, to protect their privacy.
A civil case stands on its own evidence. Whether you called the police is your decision. It does not decide whether you can hold a company accountable.
The Uber Sexual Assault MDL: What Dallas Survivors Should Know
In 2023, federal passenger sexual assault cases against Uber were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation, known as MDL No. 3084, in the Northern District of California.
An MDL groups similar federal cases before one judge for pretrial proceedings, but each survivor keeps an individual claim. Thousands of cases are now pending, and early bellwether trials in 2026 produced mixed results. Those numbers echo a broader problem, as sexual assault statistics in Texas show.
Dallas-area survivors may have options in both federal court and Texas state court. Lyft claims are not part of the Uber MDL and proceed separately. The right forum depends on the facts, so it is worth discussing with an attorney before filing.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Texas?
Texas generally gives injured people two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. For injuries arising from sexual assault, state law extends the deadline to five years. In some situations, the discovery rule can also affect when the clock starts.
Which deadline applies to a claim against a rideshare company can depend on the facts, so speaking with an attorney promptly is the safest approach.
Steps to Take After a Rideshare Sexual Assault
None of these steps is mandatory, but each one helps preserve your options:
- Get to a safe place and seek medical care, including a forensic exam if you want one.
- Screenshot the trip details in the app, including the driver’s name, license plate, route, and receipt.
- Save any messages with the driver or the company.
- Report the incident through the app if you choose, and keep copies of everything you send and receive.
- Speak with an attorney before giving detailed statements to the company or its insurers.
Support is available around the clock through the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
Texas Sexual Assault Case Results
Massage therapist sexual assault settlement.
Settlement involving client who was raped at fast-food restaurant by a manager.
Clergy Abuse Settlement.
The Rideshare Company Has Lawyers. You Should Too.
Crowe Arnold & Majors brings more than 65 years of collective legal experience and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements.
You shouldn’t have to carry this alone. Whether you are ready to act or simply want to understand your options, we will meet you where you are and move forward only on your terms.
We handle rideshare cases on contingency, so there is no fee unless you recover compensation. Speaking with an Uber sexual assault lawyer in Dallas is free and completely confidential. Whenever you are ready, contact Crowe Arnold & Majors for a free consultation.
Our Dallas Location
You can find our office in Bank of America Plaza at 901 Main Street in downtown Dallas. We’re near Dealey Plaza, the JFK Memorial, Renaissance Tower, and the AT&T Discovery District.
6550 Bank of America Plaza
901 Main St.
P: 214-231-0555