Millions of people across California rely on Uber every single day. For many, it has become part of daily life. Getting to work. Heading home after a late dinner. Avoiding parking headaches. Calling a ride when you want to be safe and not drive yourself.
But moving into 2026, that sense of convenience is being questioned. Riders across California are asking harder questions about safety, accountability, and what really happens when something goes wrong during an Uber ride.
As personal injury attorneys, we are seeing a shift. More riders are reporting serious incidents, not just car accidents, but assaults, harassment, and situations where they felt unsafe and later felt ignored by the company. Many are shocked to learn how difficult it can be to hold Uber accountable after an incident.
This guide breaks down what riders in California need to know in 2025, why safety concerns have increased, and what your rights are if you are injured or assaulted while using Uber.
Why Uber safety concerns have escalated
Uber changed transportation, but it also created a system where accountability is often unclear. In 2025, several issues have pushed safety concerns into the spotlight.
A Disturbing Rise in Reported Assaults
One of the most alarming realities surrounding rideshare safety is the number of reported sexual assaults connected to Uber and other rideshare trips. According to advocacy organizations and legal groups, including the Consumer Attorneys of California and the “Every 8 Minutes” campaign, a sexual assault related to a rideshare trip is reported approximately every eight minutes in the United States.
This statistic is not meant to shock for attention. It reflects a serious and ongoing pattern that riders, especially women, have been reporting for years. These incidents range from unwanted touching and verbal harassment to violent sexual assaults. Many occur late at night, during solo rides, or when passengers are exhausted, intoxicated, or simply trying to get home safely.
What concerns many riders even more is what happens after an incident is reported. In many cases, victims describe being routed through automated in-app systems with no clear way to speak to a real person. Responses are often delayed or generic. Riders report difficulty obtaining updates, limited communication about what action was taken against the driver, and little transparency about whether similar complaints have been made in the past.
For many survivors, the experience feels isolating. There is often no immediate follow-up, no clear explanation of next steps, and no meaningful sense of accountability. This lack of human response and transparency is a major reason so many riders feel discouraged from reporting incidents at all.
Why CAOC Is Demanding Change
The Consumer Attorneys of California launched the “Every 8 Minutes” campaign in response to these concerns. Their advocacy focuses on the fact that rideshare companies are currently not required to publicly and consistently report detailed data about sexual assaults and serious safety incidents.
At present, Uber largely controls what information is released, how incidents are categorized, and when data becomes public. CAOC and other advocacy groups are pushing for legislative changes that would require rideshare companies to formally report assault allegations and safety incidents to regulators, rather than handling them internally without oversight.
The goal is simple. Transparency. Accountability. And meaningful pressure to improve rider safety, rather than prioritizing public image management. Without mandatory reporting, dangerous patterns remain hidden, riders cannot make fully informed decisions, and lawmakers lack the data needed to address the problem effectively.
Uber is not legally required to protect riders the way many assume
Many riders believe Uber has a duty to protect them the same way a taxi company would. The reality is more complicated.
Uber classifies drivers as independent contractors, not employees. That distinction allows the company to limit liability in many cases. When an assault or serious incident occurs, Uber often positions itself as a platform, not a transportation provider.
This legal structure makes cases more complex and often leaves victims feeling shut out.
Uber locking out plaintiffs after incidents
Another issue raised by attorneys across California is how Uber responds after a serious incident is reported.
Many victims describe being locked out of their accounts. Communication is limited to automated responses. Requests for driver history, prior complaints, or internal safety records are denied or delayed. Ride data can disappear if it is not preserved quickly.
This creates a major imbalance. Uber has access to massive amounts of trip data, driver records, and internal reporting systems. Victims do not.
This is one reason legal representation is critical in Uber related cases. Preserving evidence early can make the difference between accountability and silence.
Drivers working multiple apps increase risk
In 2025, many drivers will work for several platforms at once. Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Amazon Flex are often all running simultaneously.
This leads to distracted driving, fatigue, rushed decision-making, and increased risk for passengers. Drivers may check multiple phones, switch apps mid-ride, or drive aggressively to maximize income.
For riders, this environment increases the chance of accidents and unsafe situations inside the vehicle.
Insurance gaps still leave riders exposed
Uber advertises up to one million dollars in coverage, but that coverage depends on the driver’s status at the exact moment of the incident.
If the driver is logged out, Uber provides no coverage.
If the driver is logged in but has not accepted a ride, coverage is limited.
Only when a ride is accepted or in progress does the higher coverage apply.
Many riders only learn this after they are injured.
Common Uber-related injuries and incidents
Uber cases are not limited to traffic collisions. Riders are injured in many ways, including:
-Rear-end collisions during sudden pickups
-Unsafe drop-offs in traffic or bike lanes
-Distracted driving accidents
-Driver fatigue-related crashes
-Assaults by drivers
-Assaults by other passengers in shared rides
-Harassment and intimidation
-Emotional trauma after unsafe encounters
These incidents can cause physical injuries, psychological harm, and long-term fear around transportation.
Protecting passengers, especially women and frequent riders
Many riders jokingly call themselves passenger princesses, but the reality is serious. Women make up a significant percentage of Uber users and are disproportionately affected by harassment and assault reports.
Protecting passengers means more than in-app safety buttons. It means meaningful driver screening, accountability, transparency, and legal consequences when harm occurs.
Until stronger regulations are in place, riders should take steps to protect themselves.
What riders can do to stay safer
While responsibility should never fall on the victim, there are steps riders can take.
Verify the driver, license plate, and vehicle before entering
Sit in the back seat
Share your trip with someone you trust
Avoid sharing personal details
Trust your instincts and end the ride if something feels wrong
Use in-app reporting immediately
Screenshot ride details
If an incident occurs, documentation matters.
What to do if you are injured or assaulted during an Uber ride
If something goes wrong, act quickly.
Call the police if appropriate
Seek medical care immediately
Document everything
Screenshot the ride details
Do not give statements to Uber or insurers without legal advice
Contact a personal injury attorney experienced in rideshare cases
Time matters. Evidence disappears quickly.
How Estrada Law Group helps Uber victims
Rideshare cases are complex by design. Our team works to level the playing field.
We preserve digital ride data
Demand driver records
Investigate prior complaints
Secure surveillance footage
Handle all communication with Uber
Fight insurance delay tactics
Pursue full compensation for injuries and trauma
Whether the harm was physical, emotional, or both, your experience matters.
Conclusion
Uber remains a popular transportation option in California, but safety concerns in 2025 cannot be ignored. Rising assault reports, lack of transparency, insurance gaps, and legal barriers have caused many riders to rethink how and when they use the app.
Understanding your rights is the first step. Holding companies accountable is the next.
If you were injured or assaulted while riding in an Uber, you do not have to navigate this alone.
Call Esther The Lawyer at 323 609 5000 or email intake@estradalawgroup.com.
We fight for victims. We fight for families. We fight for justice.
Stay connected for legal updates and resources.
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Sources:
Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) – Every 8 Minutes Campaign
https://every8minutes.com
Campaign launched by the Consumer Attorneys of California highlighting the frequency of sexual assault reports connected to Uber rides and advocating for mandatory reporting and legislative reform.
Daily Journal – Trial Lawyers Launch ‘Every Eight Minutes’ Campaign Targeting Uber Assault Reports
https://www.dailyjournal.com/article/388560-trial-lawyers-launch-every-eight-minutes-campaign-targeting-uber-assault-reports
Covers CAOC’s campaign, the underlying data, and calls for greater transparency and accountability from Uber regarding assault reports.
Feminist Majority Foundation – Every Eight Minutes: The Crisis of Sexual Assault in Uber Rides
https://feminist.org/news/every-eight-minutes-the-crisis-of-sexual-assault-in-uber-rides/
Discusses the scope of rideshare-related sexual assault, survivor experiences, and the lack of public reporting requirements.
Sacramento Bee – Opinion: Uber Must Be Required to Report Sexual Assaults
https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article312954687.html
Op-ed addressing the need for legislative reform and mandatory reporting of rideshare assault data.
