Lyft Releases Data Confirming 4,158 Sexual Assault Incidents, 360 Rape Reports

Lyft Releases Data Confirming 4,158 Sexual Assault Incidents, 360 Rape Reports

Feb 22, 2023

Rideshare company Lyft released a first-ever safety report on Thursday, confirming 4,158 reports of sexual assault on its platform in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

The safety report comes over three years after both Lyft and rideshare competitor Uber had initially pledged to release data detailing incidents of sexual assault and abuse on their platforms.

Following the disclosure, Lyft was quick to note that more than 99% of its rides had been completed without incident.

“While safety incidents on our platform are incredibly rare, we realize that even one is too many. Behind every report is a real person and real experience, and our goal is to make each Lyft ride as safe as we possibly can,” Jennifer Brandenburger, head of policy development and research, said in a company blog post.

Through its report, Lyft confirmed that sexual assault complaints on its platform had increased from around 1,100 in 2017 to some 1,800 in 2019. However, the company also noted that rideshare bookings increased at a higher rate during that time, resulting in a 19% decrease in the overall incident rate.

Additionally, Lyft’s report confirmed 360 incidents of rape and 10 deaths related to physical assaults over the three-year period.

Lyft’s report also noted that the company had taken steps to address the number of sexual assault incidents recorded. Such steps reportedly included:

• Investing in “safety features”
• Employing rigorous driver background checks
• Consulting sexual assault experts

Lyft’s new report arrives approximately two years after rideshare competitor company Uber released its first detailed safety report at the end of 2019. In that report, Uber disclosed it had received approximately 6,000 claims of sexual assault following 2.3 billion rideshare trips in the United States throughout 2017 and 2018.

Lyft has not recorded nearly as many trips as Uber, but the company’s new report did not disclose the total number of rides it completed. At 0.0002%, however, Lyft’s sexual assault incident rate was approximately the same as Uber’s.

Via an 18-page index, Lyft confirmed that riders reported 52% of the sexual assault incidents, while reports initiated by drivers accounted for 38%. 10% of reports were confirmed to be initiated by third parties, classified within the appendix as “law enforcement officials, regulators, family, friends, or media reports.”

DLG’s Rideshare Sexual Assault Results

Dordulian Law Group (DLG) has successfully represented clients in rideshare sexual assault and other sex crime lawsuits leading to multi-million dollar damages awards. Some of our recent sexual assault and abuse victories include:

• A $2.25 million settlement for a rideshare rape survivor who was drugged by her driver. Rideshare sexual assault incidents have been increasing steadily over the years and survivors are encouraged to report their crimes as soon as possible.
• An undisclosed multi-million dollar settlement for a woman drugged and raped by a man she had met on a ‘Sugar Daddy’ website. Despite forming a relationship with the man and having consensual sexual relations in the past, the single incident of rape constituted sexual assault and led to the victory. As DLG’s founder, Sam Dordulian, has noted in previous blogs, consent is always mandatory, and rape is always illegal.
• An undisclosed maximum financial damages award under the eggshell plaintiff rule for a sexual assault incident involving minimal contact. Despite the incident only entailing an employer putting his arm around our client and asking her to “smile more,” DLG’s sexual assault attorneys were able to secure maximum compensation under the eggshell plaintiff rule.
• A $675,000 settlement for an anonymous survivor who wished to recover the quickest possible settlement under California’s AB 218 law for a crime that occurred nearly 40 years ago.

DLG: The Nation’s Leading Sexual Assault Law Firm

Dordulian Law Group (DLG) is California’s premier sexual assault firm offering a unique and all-encompassing form of representation for survivors. In addition to the absolute best sexual assault attorneys available, DLG provides survivors with access to critical resources and a four-tiered support network of professionals. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, Sam Dordulian founded DLG to be the nation’s leading sexual assault firm helping survivors obtain the justice they deserve. Whether your claim involves an instance of rideshare sexual assault or another type of sex crime, we will fight to secure justice quickly and recover maximum financial compensation on your behalf.

DLG has developed as one of the nation’s elite, top-rated, and premier sex crimes firm through our unique and all-encompassing form of representation and support. Our Sex Crimes Division includes a team of professionals (each one offering a unique resource or specialty) hand-picked by Dordulian known as the DLG SAJE Team (Sexual Assault Justice Experts).

DLG’s SAJE Team is available 24/7 to survivors as a four-tiered support network:

• Litigation Lead: Sam Dordulian, former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County with over 100 jury trial victories and 25 years of experience
• Investigative Lead: Moses Castillo, in-house Chief Investigator and retired LAPD sex crimes detective in the elite Abused Child Unit with over 30 years of experience
• Mental Health Lead: In-house licensed clinical therapist with over 15 years of experience specifically assisting sexual assault survivors
• Advocate Leads: Two licensed and nationally accredited victim advocates who have devoted their lives to helping sexual assault survivors

In addition to our SAJE Team, DLG provides sexual assault survivors with the utmost respect, discretion, professionalism, and dedication. We know how difficult it can be to come forward and report a sex crime incident, and we’re here to listen, to believe, and to support survivors in their pursuit of justice.

Our Sexual Assault Justice Experts are here to help survivors secure justice. Contact our top-rated attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.

Our decades of experience and proven results are why sexual assault survivors throughout the nation consistently choose DLG to handle their claims, obtain justice, and recover maximum financial compensation on their behalf:

• More than $100,000,000 recovered in settlements and verdicts
• A 98% success record
• More than 100 jury trial victories
• Former sex crimes prosecutor
• Former Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County
• In-house Chief Investigator/retired LAPD detective
• More than 25 years of sex crimes experience

Contact us today for a free and no obligation consultation to discuss your rideshare sexual assault case at 818-322-4056. DLG and Sam Dordulian have successfully helped countless survivors recover maximum financial damages awards and obtain the justice they deserve on their own terms.

DLG accepts every case on a contingency fee agreement, which means you never have to worry about upfront costs or out-of-pocket expenses when securing the very best legal representation available. Our No Win/No Fee Guarantee means you don’t pay a penny until we recover maximum financial compensation for your sexual abuse claim.

Reach out to a dedicated member of our team today to learn more about how we can help you secure the justice you deserve through a sexual assault civil lawsuit.