Rideshare passengers trust that the person behind the wheel has been vetted and is safe. But some passengers find themselves in a nightmare where a driver sexually assaults them. If you were sexually assaulted by an Uber driver in Seattle, you may have a civil claim against the driver and Uber as a company.
Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyers has decades of experience representing survivors of sexual assault in Seattle, WA. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation to learn how we can help you.
Why Choose Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyers to Handle Your Sexual Assault Claim
Uber is a publicly traded company with a massive legal budget and a defense strategy built around minimizing its exposure in thousands of active sexual assault cases nationwide. Going up against that operation without experienced counsel is not advisable.
Survivors in Seattle choose our firm to stand up for them because:
- We’ve litigated against large corporations and institutional defendants for over 30 years.
- We have recovered billions of dollars in personal injury awards.
- Our founding attorney has taken cases to the U.S. Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit.
- We’ve been recognized by leading legal organizations for our work on behalf of survivors.
- We represent survivors on a contingency basis, with no fees unless we recover compensation.
Call us today for a free case review with a Seattle Uber sexual assault attorney who can fight for you.
How a Seattle Uber Sexual Assault Attorney Can Help
A civil claim against an Uber driver is as complex as it gets. Uber has constructed its relationship with rideshare drivers to give it as much cover as possible. You need experienced representation to show why they are liable for the harm you suffered.
An attorney can help you by:
- Securing trip data, driver records, and internal complaint history from Uber’s platform.
- Obtaining any surveillance footage and dashcam recordings tied to the ride.
- Gathering medical and psychological records that document the physical and emotional harm you’ve experienced.
- Investigating whether the driver had prior complaints or a background that should have been flagged.
- Identifying every liable party, from the driver individually to Uber as an entity.
- Coordinating with law enforcement to see the individual brought to justice.
- Filing a lawsuit and preparing for trial if Uber refuses to offer fair compensation.
You don’t need a criminal conviction or even a police report to pursue a civil claim. You can seek financial compensation through a civil claim at any point. Call an attorney to help you understand this process.
What Are My Rights After a Sexual Assault by an Uber Driver?
You have the right to pursue a civil lawsuit for damages against the driver who assaulted you and (potentially) Uber itself.
Uber has consistently argued that its drivers are independent contractors, not employees. It alleges that sexual assault falls outside the scope of any duty it owes passengers.
Courts have not always accepted that argument. In the ongoing federal multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3084), juries have found Uber liable for assaults because passengers reasonably believed the driver was acting on Uber’s behalf based on how the company markets and operates its platform. A federal jury awarded $8.5 million to a survivor in one of the first bellwether trials for this topic.
Other claims against Uber are based on negligence theories. Reporting has shown that Uber’s internal teams were aware of safety risks and have occasionally delayed implementing measures that could have reduced them. These cases allege that the company failed to conduct adequate background checks, ignored prior complaints against drivers, or prioritized rapid driver onboarding over passenger safety.
What Injuries Result from Sexual Assault by an Uber Driver?
The harm from a rideshare sexual assault is rarely limited to the physical. Survivors commonly experience:
- Physical injuries sustained during the assault
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression/mood disorders
- Sleep disturbances
- Difficulty trusting others, particularly in enclosed or isolated settings
- Substance use as a coping mechanism
- Disruption to work or relationships
In many cases, the driver may know where you live. That knowledge can produce lasting fear and a sense of vulnerability long after the assault itself.
What Compensation Can I Obtain After a Rideshare Assault?
A successful civil claim can enable you to recover compensation for the financial and emotional consequences of the assault.
Your economic and non-economic damages may include money for:
- Medical treatment
- Psychological counseling
- Prescription medications
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Trauma-related conditions
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Impact on personal relationships
In some cases, punitive damages may be available to punish the driver or Uber for extreme misconduct.
An experienced attorney can help you determine the damages available in your claim and demand no less than the full range of damages you’ve suffered.
What Is the Deadline for a Sexual Assault Claim in Washington?
Washington’s filing deadlines depend on the nature of the claim and who it’s filed against. A civil assault claim against the driver directly is generally treated as an intentional tort, which typically must be filed within two years of the incident.
A negligence-based claim against Uber follows Washington’s general three-year personal injury statute of limitations.
For survivors who were minors at the time of the assault, the rules are different. Childhood sexual abuse that occurred on or after June 6, 2024, is not bound by a statute of limitations under Washington law.
You should speak to an attorney as soon as possible to determine the deadlines in your claim. Reach out to us today to learn more about how to comply with the time limits.
Contact a Seattle Uber Sexual Assault Attorney for Advocacy
Rideshare sexual assaults should never, ever happen. You have the right to hold both the driver and the company that enabled the assault accountable. Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyers wants to help you do that.
Let us put decades of experience behind your case. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Seattle Uber sexual assault attorney.