Rideshare company Lyft Inc (NASDAQ: LYFT) is facing 17 new lawsuits alleging the company of failing to protect riders and passengers from incidents of physical and sexual assault.
The lawsuits have been brought against the company by 13 victims of sexual assault, and four victims of physical assault. According to the law firm representing the plaintiffs, Peiffer Wolf, Lyft has faced an ongoing problem with misconduct by riders and drivers for a number of years but has not taken any steps to rectify the issue.
"Lyft has a responsibility to protect its passengers and drivers," said Tracey Cowan, a partner at Peiffer Wolf. "Its refusal to do so has resulted in acts of violence that left our clients with disabilities, permanent deformities, and lifelong trauma. Nothing can undo the pain and suffering they endured, but it's their hope that by sharing their stories, they can make Lyft hear them, force Lyft to protect its users, and drastically reduce the number of violent acts during Lyft rides in the future."
Some Victims Shared Their Stories in a Press Conference
Five of the plaintiffs appeared in a video press conference to share their stories. Three members of the group were victims of sexual assault, while the other two were victims of physical assault.
Katherine Rasta hailed a Lyft ride after an evening out with her friends in Phoenix, Arizona, only to have her driver begin making unsolicited advances within minutes of their trip. Rasta said that the driver continued his advances until reaching their destination, where he locked the doors, took her phone, and sexually assaulted her. The driver threatened Rasta, stating "I know where you live and where your friend lives now."
"When I got home, I ran to the bathroom and threw up because I was having a severe anxiety attack. I immediately got into the shower because I felt defiled," said Rasta. "I kept thinking about what he said. If I said anything he would come find me. I changed my number, and I wanted to make sure he wouldn't try to come find me."
While driving for Lyft in Wilton, Connecticut, Stuart Berman picked up a male passenger that was in the midst of a heated phone conversation. After demanding Berman stop before reaching their destination, the passenger abruptly attacked, punching him repeatedly in the face. Berman suffered brain injuries requiring two surgeries and physical therapy to assist with walking and balance.
"I am still having physical therapy sessions three times a week but am not fully recovered," Berman shared. "I still have trouble going up and down stairs and have issues walking straight. It makes me feel like a child. I also have a huge physical reminder of the attack that I have to see every time I look in the mirror. My brain surgery left a big ridge of scar tissue on my scalp."
According to the stories of victims, Lyft was often dismissive, and rarely followed up on incidents.
"When I finally figured out how to speak with a Lyft representative to report the assault, all I received was an email stating that they were very sorry to hear about my story. Yet again, I felt no protection from Lyft whatsoever," said Amy Collins, a Lyft driver who was sexually assaulted by a passenger in Napa, California.
Lyft Has Been Sued on Similar Grounds Before
Lyft has been under scrutiny for its safety practices (or lack thereof) for several years, despite trying to position itself as the more socially conscious alternative to Uber amid its own controversy.
The company was struck by lawsuits in 2019 that alleged the company wasn't doing enough to protect women from sexual assault on its platforms. One anonymous rider shared her harrowing experience with NPR, stating that a passenger took advantage of her inebriated state to take her to his own home to sexually assault her.
At the time, the company announced new safety features, such as an emergency call button and new driver training.