Rising Sexual Misconduct Allegations Pile Up Against Uber Amid Growing Safety Commotion
Uber Faces Intense Legal Scrutiny Over Safety and Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Uber, the ride-hailing giant, is currently embroiled in a series of legal battles and public backlash related to safety issues and numerous sexual misconduct allegations against its drivers. As of mid-2025, over 3,000 sexual assault lawsuits have been filed against Uber, consolidated in a major multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3084) based in San Francisco, with trials scheduled to begin in December 2025 [1][3][4][5].
The legal battles for the sexual assault cases will kick off on December 8, 2025. Uber has filed motions seeking to dismiss parts or all claims in many complaints, but faces resistance from plaintiffs and the court [1][4]. Plaintiffs accuse Uber of failing to properly screen and perform adequate background checks on drivers accused of sexual assault. There are ongoing efforts by plaintiffs’ attorneys to obtain background check records from screening companies like Checkr and Accurate Background under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) [3].
The lawsuits criticize Uber’s corporate culture and prior leadership, both former CEO Travis Kalanick and current CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, for allegedly ignoring safety risks and resisting implementation of basic safeguards such as biometric background checks, in-vehicle cameras, and features prioritizing female drivers [3]. The court has imposed limits on discovery related to Uber’s internal data handling, including the deletion of data relevant to the lawsuits, which adds complexity to evidence management. A Settlement Master has been appointed to facilitate possible resolutions [4].
In addition to sexual assault lawsuits, Uber filed a federal racketeering lawsuit in July 2025 against certain Los Angeles law firms and medical providers accused of fraudulently inflating personal injury claims involving Uber drivers. Uber alleges these entities conspired to direct injured passengers to preferred medical providers who performed unnecessary treatments and submitted inflated bills to insurance, causing substantial losses for Uber [2].
The ongoing MDL and upcoming trials will be critical in shaping Uber’s legal and public standing on these matters [1][3][4][5]. Critics argue that Uber intentionally withheld safety tools like an algorithm that could predict high-risk trips to protect its gig-economy model. The "Women's Preferences" pilot program, which matches women as riders with women as drivers, is one of Uber's practices under scrutiny.
The first bellwether trial, scheduled for December 2025, will serve as a test case for the outcome of the lawsuits against Uber. Some analysts predict that any payouts could resemble those seen in Big Tobacco or opioid lawsuits due to the magnitude of the harm [6]. The legal challenges and public outcry surrounding Uber’s safety issues have continued to escalate, potentially altering the gig economy as we know it [7].
References:
- The Information
- Reuters
- The Verge
- Bloomberg Law
- The New York Times
- CNBC
- The Guardian
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