Lyft Sued Over Sexual Assault of Female Passenger

Lieff Cabraser files federal lawsuit against Lyft alleging negligence, assault, and failure to protect passengers

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:19pm by Ben Kaplan

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Lieff Cabraser has filed a federal personal injury lawsuit against Lyft on behalf of a female passenger who was sexually assaulted by a Lyft driver in 2024. The lawsuit alleges that Lyft has failed to implement adequate safety measures to prevent such assaults, despite being aware of the issue for over a decade.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about passenger safety, particularly for female riders, in the rideshare industry. The lawsuit accuses Lyft of prioritizing profits over passenger wellbeing and failing to address known safety issues, raising questions about the company's commitment to protecting its users.

The details

The lawsuit alleges that in December 2024, the plaintiff ordered a Lyft ride and was then harassed, physically attacked, and sexually assaulted by the Lyft driver during the trip. The complaint states that Lyft has known about the problem of sexual assaults by its drivers for over a decade but has failed to implement basic safety measures to prevent such incidents, which continue to occur.

  • The alleged assault took place in December 2024.
  • Lieff Cabraser filed the federal lawsuit on March 13, 2026.

The players

Lieff Cabraser

A law firm that filed the federal personal injury lawsuit against Lyft on behalf of the plaintiff.

Jane Doe

The plaintiff, a female Lyft passenger who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a Lyft driver in 2024.

Tiseme Zegeye

A partner at Lieff Cabraser who is representing the plaintiff in the lawsuit.

Lyft

The rideshare company that is being sued for allegedly failing to implement adequate safety measures to protect passengers.

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What they’re saying

“Lyft's conscious disregard of passenger safety, particularly for female Lyft passengers, is distressing.”

— Tiseme Zegeye, Partner, Lieff Cabraser (Business Wire)

“Lyft has made it clear that passenger safety, particularly female passenger safety, is not its priority.”

— Tiseme Zegeye, Partner, Lieff Cabraser (Business Wire)

What’s next

The lawsuit seeks economic, non-economic, and punitive damages, as well as injunctive and equitable relief. The court will determine the next steps in the legal proceedings.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing safety concerns in the rideshare industry and the need for companies like Lyft to prioritize passenger wellbeing over profits. The lawsuit aims to hold Lyft accountable for its alleged failure to protect its users, particularly female passengers, from sexual assault.