If something happened to you in a rideshare and you are struggling right now, help is available before any legal question. RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline is reachable at 1-800-656-4673 every hour of the day, without cost and in confidence. If you are in danger, call 911. Speaking with a hotline counselor has no bearing on a future claim, and nothing from that conversation ever needs to be shared with a lawyer.
When you are ready to think about accountability, you may have heard that many passengers have sued Uber and that those cases have been grouped together in federal court. Survivors in Illinois often wonder what that means for them. This post explains the basics and walks through the questions people most often ask before reaching out.
The Federal Proceeding
Federal lawsuits brought by passengers against Uber have been coordinated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California before Judge Charles R. Breyer. The proceeding is titled In re: Uber Technologies, Inc., Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation, Case No. 3:23-md-03084-CRB.
Federal or Illinois Court?
Whether an Illinois passenger's claim belongs in that federal proceeding or in an Illinois court depends on the specific facts. That is a judgment to make with a lawyer who knows the details of your ride, your timeline and the parties involved.
What "Coordinated" Generally Means
When many similar federal lawsuits are filed against the same company in different parts of the country, they can be gathered before one judge for pretrial proceedings. That process, known as multidistrict litigation or an MDL, lets common questions such as the company's policies and document production be handled once instead of in dozens of courts. Each passenger's claim still rests on its own facts, including who the driver was, what happened on that trip and what the company knew about that driver.
For a survivor in Illinois, the practical takeaway is that a large federal proceeding does not replace your individual story or your individual decision. You do not have to join anything simply because others have filed. A lawyer can explain where a claim like yours would likely be heard, what that path involves and how it compares with bringing the case in an Illinois court, so you can make an informed choice on your own timeline.
What Every Rideshare Claim Has in Common
Wherever it is filed, a rideshare assault claim usually turns on the company's conduct, not just the driver's. Because the ride was arranged through an app, the platform holds the evidentiary record: the driver's identity, the route, the timing and earlier complaints about that driver. Claims are usually brought against the platform, with negligent screening as the theory that most often carries them, along with others as the facts warrant. No police report or criminal conviction is required, and the civil question is what the company knew, should have known and did.
Illinois law supplies the standards. The Transportation Network Providers Act, 625 ILCS 57, requires criminal background checks that include the National Sex Offenders Registry, bars drivers with certain recent convictions and requires the app to show passengers the driver's photo and plate. Chicago adds its own licensing and identity re-verification rules under Chapter 9-115 of the Municipal Code. Rideshare companies are private, so Illinois Tort Immunity rules for public bodies do not apply in the same way.
Questions People Ask Before Calling
Will my name be public? Steps can be taken to protect your identity in the court record. We explain them before anything is filed.
The driver has died. A claim can still proceed. It is usually brought against the company that placed the driver in a position of trust.
I'm calling for someone else. That is fine and very common. The person involved has no obligation to do anything.
Should I have reported in the app or to police first? Neither is required before speaking to a lawyer. You can do one, both or neither, and a lawyer can ask the company to preserve trip and driver records.
How long do I have? It depends on the facts, including your age at the time and who the defendant is. A lawyer should check the dates.
What to Keep
If you still have the app, keep it and your account. Your ride history, receipt and in-app messages identify the trip, driver and vehicle. Screenshots of what the app showed you are also useful.
Contacting the Firm
A call to our office is only a conversation. You will reach a person and can share as much or as little as you choose. If you want us to look into it, we review at our own expense which company was responsible, whether your claim fits the federal proceeding or an Illinois court, what records exist and whether there is still time. We give you an honest answer and the decision stays with you. Declining keeps everything private. Proceeding means we take on the filings, deadlines, records and insurers, and we can seek protection for your identity.
Our Chicago Office
Coplan + Crane is located at 60 W Randolph St, Suite 333, Chicago, IL 60601. Its line, (708) 671-6858, is answered 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Ervin Nevitt, a partner, has been a member of the Illinois bar since 2014. Nothing you share leaves the firm. Learn more: https://survivorsofabuseil.com/rideshare-sexual-assault-lawyer-il/
Attorney advertising. This material is general information and does not create legal advice.
