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Uber Cited for spike in lawsuits involving sexual misconduct while serious safety issues arise.

What was once touted as a company that changed the way we as a society defined how to conduct ourselves in everyday urban-related activities has reached critical mass. Federal courts of the United States, by August 2025, will witness above 2,200 new lawsuits against Uber, incorporated into multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 2981), alleging, among others, sexual assaults by Uber drivers. 

The first bellwether trial is slated for December 2025, with legal analysts opining about possible payouts of several hundred million, if not billions, of dollars.

The lawsuits allege that Uber knew that bad driver behavior was a problem, but was negligent in screening drivers, disregarding red flags, and prioritizing profit over safety features. It was reported in Uber's internal documents that they received 400,000 sexual misconduct reports from 2017 to 2022, which is roughly one report every eight minutes. 

Uber's Defense: Meeting Evolving Safety Standards

Uber claims it has made "unprecedented investments" in safety, pointing to a 44% reduction in serious sexual assault reports since 2019. The highlighted features were:  

  • RideCheck (detects discrepancies in trip routes)  
  • Audio recording (encrypted trip recording)
  • 911 integration (in-app emergency button) 

However, critics argued these measures were years overdue because a New York Times investigation found that Uber intentionally withheld unused safety tools like an algorithm that was able to predict a high-risk trip to avoid "putting at risk its gig-economy model." 

Legal Challenges, Public Outcry

In July 2025, Uber lost a pivotal motion to dismiss fundamental claims in California in which plaintiffs contend Uber qualifies as a common carrier (a legal classification that comes with stricter safety requirements). A newly filed Louisiana lawsuit in July, it is alleges that a driver assaulted the passenger after a five-hour detour from the destination and following multiple unanswered safety pings to Uber.   

Uber's PR challenges deepened after The Heritage Foundation accused Uber of violating civil rights laws with its Women's Preferences" pilot program (matching female riders/drivers), a claim Uber disputes.

What are Uber’s Legal Battles and Backlash? 

In July 2025, Uber lost a major motion to dismiss core claims in California, where plaintiffs argue that Uber is a "common carrier," requiring much stronger safety responsibilities. At the same time, a Louisiana lawsuit was filed in July, claiming that a driver assaulted a passenger after a 5-hour detour, even after Uber had ignored safety pings. 

Uber's public relations issues intensified as The Heritage Foundation claimed that its "Women's Preferences" pilot program (matching women as riders with women as drivers) violates civil rights laws. Uber law disputed the claims.

What's Next for the Uber Drivers?

Since Uber is going to trial, their settlement strategy is not clear. Some analysts believe any payouts would look like Big Tobacco or opioid lawsuits, given the magnitude of the harm. For riders, safety advocates recommend:

  • Verify the driver (matching plate numbers or PIN codes)
  • Share your trip details (with trusted contacts).
  • Report incidents immediately (by using Uber's 24/7 safety line). 

There are multiplying lawsuits; Uber's legacy is at stake. Can Uber balance accountability with growth, or is its safety crisis sure to change the gig economy as we know it? Only time will tell as the taxi industry giant prepares its remedial measures for this situation.