New Orleans runs on rideshare. So does Baton Rouge. So does every city where parking is a nightmare, the Saints are playing, and you have to navigate the French Quarter’s one-way streets. That trust adds up. Uber alone logged 3.9 billion trips worldwide in just the second quarter of 2026. But a recent investigation into how the company defends itself in court raises serious questions about what recourse survivors of assault actually have when something goes wrong.
How Uber Defends Sexual Assault Claims in Court
A New York Times investigation published in August 2026 examined thousands of deposition transcripts from more than a dozen active Uber lawsuits. What it found was striking: company attorneys routinely question sexual assault survivors about their clothing, drinking, sexual history, and childhood, including whether they had been previously abused.
In one case, a Florida woman’s driver had already pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 10 years in prison for rape. During her 2025 deposition, Uber’s attorney asked about her alcohol consumption, medications, and clothing before the questioning turned to her childhood and prior consensual sexual history. Her own attorney ultimately ended the deposition. In court filings, Uber characterized the assault as “unrelated to the at-issue accident” and argued that she had “contributed to causing” her own injuries.
More than 4,000 lawsuits alleging sexual assault by Uber drivers have been filed nationwide, a volume that has led to a multidistrict litigation proceeding in federal court to consolidate many of the claims for pretrial purposes.
And Congress May Make It Harder to Fight Back
A provision added to a federal transportation bill earlier this year would create new legal protections for Uber and Lyft, making it more difficult for victims of sexual assault, wrongful death, and catastrophic crashes to pursue claims against the companies in court. Members of Congress and rideshare safety advocates have identified the amendment as an effort by rideshare companies to limit their liability in these cases.
What Louisiana’s New Fault Law Means For Your Case
If you’re a Louisiana rider, a recent change in state law is worth understanding, especially if you’re ever in a position to make a claim. Louisiana adopted a new comparative fault standard for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2026. Under Act 15 of 2025, a jury that assigns 51% or more of the fault for an injury to the injured person can no longer award that person any damages. Louisiana previously followed a pure comparative fault system, which allowed an injured person to recover some damages regardless of how much fault a jury assigned to them.
In cases where Uber’s defense strategy involves shifting blame to the survivor — as the deposition tactics above suggest — this new standard raises the stakes considerably.
How to Protect Yourself on Every Ride
While these legal battles play out in court, there are steps you can take right now to protect yourself.
- Request and pay for rides only through the app; never accept a ride from a driver who approaches you directly, which happens occasionally in high-traffic areas.
- If you’re out with a group, get into the car together rather than splitting up into separate rides with different drivers.
- Turn on your own phone’s location-sharing feature, in addition to the app’s trip tracking so that someone can follow your route independently.
- Note your driver’s name and general description, not only the license plate, when you get in.
- Watch the navigation route on your own phone, and speak up if it veers off in an unexpected direction.
- Make sure your phone is charged before requesting a ride, so you have a way to call for help if something goes wrong.
- Rate and review your ride honestly afterward; accurate reviews help surface patterns with repeat drivers.
Hurt on a Rideshare? Here’s What to Do Next.
Uber markets itself as a safe and reliable way to get around. But the way the company has defended itself in court – questioning survivors about their clothing, drinking habits, and personal history – tells a different story. Survivors of sexual assault deserve transparency and accountability, not tactics designed to discourage them from pursuing justice.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or harassment during a rideshare trip and wish to discuss the specifics of your case in a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer, please contact us today.