Can you sue Uber for sexual assault in Pennsylvania?
Yes. If you were sexually assaulted by an Uber driver during or around a ride in Pennsylvania, a civil claim can hold the driver responsible and raise the question of whether Uber’s own safety practices played a part. A civil case is separate from any criminal case — you do not need a police report, a charge, or a conviction, and you do not need to have reported it the night it happened.
Getting into a rideshare means trusting a stranger the company vetted and dispatched to you. When that trust is violated, what happened is not your fault — not because of where you were going, what you wore, or whether you had been drinking. The law allows survivors to seek accountability and answers.
How a rideshare company can be responsible
The driver is responsible for their own conduct. But a rideshare company can also face liability when its own choices about safety created or ignored risk. Survivors who allege rideshare assaults have raised theories such as:
- Negligent driver screening — inadequate background checks or onboarding a driver despite red flags.
- Failure to act on prior complaints about the same driver.
- Inadequate safety features — gaps in in-app reporting, identity verification, or trip monitoring.
- How the company responded after an assault was reported.
Uber has publicly released U.S. Safety Reports acknowledging thousands of reported sexual-assault incidents tied to rides nationwide. That public context does not decide any individual case — yours is judged on its own facts — but it shows these are serious, recognized harms, not isolated claims.
How long do you have to file in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania sets specific deadlines for filing a civil claim, and those deadlines have changed in recent years — so the safest step is to confirm yours directly instead of assuming it is already too late. How much time you have can depend on how old you were, when the abuse happened, and other facts. That is exactly why we do not print a single number here: getting it wrong could cost you the right to be heard.
What matters is this — an assault during an Uber ride from years ago may still be within the deadline, and waiting can quietly take the decision out of your hands. A free, confidential call with Ashley DiLiberto gives you a clear, accurate answer about your own deadline, at no cost and with no obligation.
How to start — safely and privately
You do not need every detail, a police report, or any paperwork to reach out. You do not need to have told anyone before now. A first conversation is simply that — a conversation, on your terms and at your pace. When you are ready, here is what a confidential review with Ashley DiLiberto looks like:
- You share only what you are comfortable sharing — there is no interrogation and no judgment.
- Ashley explains, in plain language, whether Uber and the people involved can be held accountable, and what your options are.
- If we move forward, the case is handled on contingency — there is no cost unless we win.
Call (267) 502-9090 any time, day or night, or request a free, confidential case review online. The call is free, private, and entirely yours — you decide if and when you are ready.
Compensation in a rideshare assault case
A civil claim can seek compensation for counseling and future therapy, medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and the lasting impact the abuse has had on your life. For many survivors, a case is about more than money — it is accountability, and forcing Uber to change the way it protects people so no one else is harmed the same way. Survivors of Abuse PA handles these cases on contingency. Past results never guarantee a future outcome; every case is judged on its own facts.
About your attorney
Ashley B. DiLiberto, Esq. is a Pennsylvania sexual-abuse lawyer (PA Attorney ID 323701, admitted 2017, clean disciplinary record) and a Partner at Messa & Associates, P.C. in Philadelphia, where she leads the firm’s national Mass Tort Litigation Team. She has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Rising Star” every year since 2019 and represented survivors in the Boy Scouts of America cases connected to the $2.46 billion settlement. She offers free, confidential consultations 24/7. Past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sue Uber for a driver's sexual assault?
Often, yes. A civil claim can name the driver and raise whether Uber's screening, complaint handling, or safety features played a part. A free, confidential review tells you whether you have a claim.
Do I need to have reported it to the police?
No. A civil claim is separate from the criminal system. You can pursue it even if you never reported the assault and even if no charges were filed.
What if I had been drinking?
It does not make the assault your fault and does not bar a claim. Being impaired or alone does not give anyone the right to assault you — the responsibility lies with the person who did it.
I deleted the app or don't have the receipt — can I still file?
Likely yes. Ride records are often recoverable, and an attorney can help obtain trip data through the legal process. Reach out and ask — it costs nothing.
Does it matter that drivers are independent contractors?
The contractor label does not automatically shield the company. Survivors have pursued claims based on the company's own conduct — screening, safety design, and complaint response. An attorney evaluates which theories fit your facts.
How long do I have to file in Pennsylvania?
It depends on your age and when the assault happened, and the rules have changed recently. A free, confidential call confirms your exact deadline.
Will my case be private?
Your first conversation is confidential and protecting your privacy is a priority. Many of these cases resolve confidentially. You share only what you are comfortable with.
What if it happened in another city or state?
Ashley is licensed in Pennsylvania and several other states and works with a national mass-tort team. Reach out and we will tell you how your case can be handled.
What does it cost to hire a lawyer?
Nothing up front. These cases are handled on contingency — no fee unless we win — and the consultation is free and confidential.
Serving sexual abuse survivors across Pennsylvania
Ashley DiLiberto represents survivors statewide. Explore help in your area:
