A recent lawsuit has brought to light the alleged negligence of a major ridesharing company, which is accused of failing to protect its passengers from sexual assault. The complaint was filed by Jane Doe PW 046 in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on November 4, 2024, against Uber Technologies, Inc., Rasier, LLC, and unnamed defendants.
The plaintiff alleges that she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver during a ride arranged through the Uber app. The lawsuit accuses Uber of general negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, common carrier negligence, and vicarious liability for the actions of its drivers. According to the complaint, Uber has been aware since at least 2014 that some drivers have been involved in sexual assaults but has failed to implement adequate safety measures or improve its hiring practices. The plaintiff claims that despite numerous complaints and criminal investigations into such incidents, Uber has not made significant changes to protect passengers.
Jane Doe PW 046 recounts her harrowing experience on November 5, 2022, when she was allegedly sexually harassed and assaulted by an Uber driver who touched her inappropriately during a ride. She states that she accepted the ride believing it would be safe due to Uber's assurances about their screening processes and safety measures. However, she argues that these promises were misleading as they did not reflect the reality of the risks posed by using Uber's services.
The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief from the court including compensatory damages for economic losses such as medical expenses and lost wages; non-economic damages for pain and suffering; punitive damages to punish Uber for its alleged reckless disregard for passenger safety; and other legal costs. The plaintiff’s attorneys argue that Uber’s failure to act on known risks constitutes gross negligence deserving of punitive action.
Representing Jane Doe PW 046 are attorneys Rachel B. Abrams and Adam B. Wolf from Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise LLP. The case is presided over by Judge Austin Lam under Case ID CGC-24-619485.