A Washington woman has filed a federal lawsuit claiming a Lyft ride in Tacoma turned into a nightmare when the driver allegedly trapped and sexually assaulted her in July 2023. The complaint names Lyft and unidentified defendants and seeks economic and non‑economic damages in the U.S. District Court.
The suit was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, according to KIRO 7. The plaintiff is identified in court records as V.G., a Washington resident over 18, and the alleged assault is reported to have taken place on July 26, 2023. KIRO 7 reports it contacted Lyft for comment.
Allegations in the Complaint
According to KIRO 7, the complaint says the woman requested a Lyft, then got into a vehicle displaying a Lyft light, expecting a routine trip to her destination. Instead, the driver allegedly ended the ride in the app, “activated the vehicle’s child safety locks” so she could not get out, sped away, and drove her to a secluded area. There, the suit claims, he climbed into the back seat, restrained her, and orally raped her, and she lost consciousness during the attack.
Beyond the alleged assault, the lawsuit aims to challenge Lyft’s safety practices. The filing accuses the company of long‑standing safety failures, including allegedly relying on quick, name‑based background checks instead of fingerprint screening, not using biometric tools to verify driver identities, failing to require anti‑harassment or sexual assault training for drivers, and choosing not to use available in‑car monitoring technologies. The complaint brings claims for negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, common‑carrier negligence, intentional misrepresentation, and strict product liability, and it asks for a jury trial along with monetary damages.
Lyft’s Stated Safety Measures
Lyft says it invests heavily in safety and transparency. In its Lyft Community Safety Report, the company describes serious safety incidents as “statistically very rare” and highlights safety features such as annual background checks, continuous criminal monitoring, and in‑app safety tools. In its public filings, Lyft also points to driver screening, ongoing monitorin,g and mandatory safety education created with RAINN.
Legal Context
The complaint lists multiple civil causes of action and seeks compensation for both physical injuries and psychological harm, along with a jury trial. Since the alleged assault occurred on July 26, 2023, and the lawsuit was filed this month, the case appears to fall within Washington’s three‑year statute of limitations for personal injury claims as set out in RCW 4.16.080, which indicates the filing is timely under state law…