The Uber Sexual Assault Litigation: Fighting for Accountability in Fort Worth
You were looking for a way home, not a fight for your life. Whether you were leaving the West 7th entertainment district or catching a ride home after a late shift in downtown Fort Worth, you trusted that the app on your phone was a shield. Instead, for thousands of women, that app became a doorway for a predator.
We are currently tracking a massive wave of litigation that has reached a critical boiling point right here in Tarrant County. A Fort Worth woman, identified in court records as Jane Doe QLF 001, has had her case selected as the third federal bellwether trial in the ongoing Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 3084). Her story is a brutal reminder of the stakes: a 2020 ride that ended in a violent sexual assault. While the driver in her case was convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison, the criminal justice system only handles the person. The civil justice system is how we handle the corporation that put him in the car with her.
If you have survived a rideshare assault, you are likely feeling a mix of trauma, anger, and a desperate need for answers. We represent survivors in sexual assault claims across Texas, and we know that the road to recovery starts with holding every responsible party accountable.
The Fort Worth Bellwether: Why This Case Changes Everything
The term “bellwether” comes from the lead sheep in a flock. In federal litigation, a bellwether trial is a test case used to show how juries will react to the evidence. The Fort Worth case set for September 14, 2026, is central to the entire national movement for three reasons:
- The Criminal Predicate: The 11-year prison sentence for the driver proves beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred. This removes the “consent” defense that Uber often uses to shame survivors.
- The Texas Venue: While the trial sits in the Northern District of California due to federal consolidation, it applies Texas substantive law. Texas law regarding “common carriers” is a powerful weapon for survivors.
- The Corporate Knowledge: This case examines Uber’s internal “S-RAD” (Safety Risk Assessment Data). We examine the proof that Uber’s own algorithms may have flagged certain drivers or routes as high-risk before the assault ever happened.
Texas Common Carrier Laws: The “Highest Degree of Care”
In many states, the fight is over whether the driver is an employee or an independent contractor. In Texas, we work to bypass that entire “shell game” by asserting that Uber is a Common Carrier.
Under Texas law, a common carrier is an entity that transports the public for hire. If the court determines Uber fits this category, the legal duty it owes you is not just “reasonable care”—it is the highest degree of care.
“A common carrier of passengers is required to exercise that high degree of care that would be exercised by a very cautious, prudent, and competent person under the same or similar circumstances.”
This means that if there was a single feasible safety measure—like biometric fingerprinting, real-time audio monitoring, or a “female-only” driver option—that could have prevented your assault, Uber may be liable for failing to provide it. As your Texas personal injury lawyers, we use this higher standard to pierce the corporate shield.
The S-RAD Data: What Uber Knew and When They Knew It
One of the most explosive developments in the 2026 litigation updates is the fight over missing “S-RAD” scores. Our internal analysis of this system suggests that Uber has internal tools built to measure “ride risk” before a passenger ever gets in the car.
We examine three specific data points in every Fort Worth case:
* S-RAD Scores: Did Uber’s system identify your driver as a risk based on prior “near-miss” complaints or erratic driving?
* Supply Plan Data: Did Uber have a safer, more highly-rated driver nearby, but chose a “high-risk” driver to save a few cents on the transaction?
* Spoliation of Evidence: If Uber failed to preserve this data, we ask the court for an “adverse inference” instruction. In plain English, we ask the judge to tell the jury they can assume the missing data would have proven Uber’s negligence.
The Insurance Shell Game: Reaching the $1 Million Policy
Uber operates through a subsidiary called Rasier, LLC. When a driver is logged into the app and a ride is in progress (Period 3), a $1,000,000 commercial liability policy is active.
The company will try to tell you that the driver’s personal insurance should pay. This is a trap. Most personal policies have a “livery exclusion” that voids coverage the second an app is turned on for money. We work to lock Uber into the “Period 3” category, ensuring that a $1 million policy is the floor—not the ceiling—for your recovery.
The Adjuster Playbook: Three Tactics They Use to Silence Survivors
Within days of an incident, you may receive a call from a “safety representative” who sounds helpful. They are not on your side. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, spent years as an insurance-defense insider. He knows the tactics they use to devalue your life:
- The Recorded Statement Trap: They will ask you to “just tell us what happened” while you are still in shock. They are looking for one word or one hesitation they can use to imply the assault was consensual or that you “volunteered” for the risk. Counter: Refuse all recorded statements. Tell them your attorney will handle all communications.
- The Medical Mining Expedition: They will ask for a broad release to your entire medical history, looking for unrelated mental health treatments from years ago to claim your PTSD was “pre-existing.” Counter: We only provide records that are directly relevant to the trauma caused by the assault.
- The “Independent Contractor” Dodge: They will tell you that because the driver isn’t an employee, you can only sue the driver (who likely has no assets). Counter: We focus on Uber’s direct negligence in their vetting process and their “Safe Ride” marketing, which created a false sense of security.
Determining the Value of an Uber Sexual Assault Claim
Every survivor’s trauma is unique, but we look at the results of cases like the $8.5 million Arizona verdict to set a benchmark. In a wrongful death or catastrophic assault case, the damages are divided into three tiers:
- Economic Damages: The cost of trauma-informed therapy, EMDR, psychiatric treatment, and lost earning capacity if the PTSD prevents you from working.
- Non-Economic Damages: Mental anguish, physical pain, and the loss of enjoyment of life. In Texas, we treat the “invisible injury” of psychological trauma as a permanent impairment.
- Punitive Damages: In Texas, if the conduct involves a felony—which is proven by the 11-year sentence in the Fort Worth bellwether—the usual caps on punitive damages can be lifted under the “felony exception” (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 41.008(c)).
For a case involving forcible rape and a criminal conviction, we estimate a value range of $1,500,000 to $5,000,000+. Past results depend on the facts of each case and do not guarantee future outcomes, but we fight for the maximum possible accountability.
The Evidence Clock: Why the Next 72 Hours Are Critical
Evidence in a digital world is fragile. To win against a company with Uber’s resources, we have to move faster than their delete key.
- The App Log: We must subpoena the “Trip-State Telemetry” immediately. This proves exactly where the car was, when the app was turned off, and if the driver deviated from the route.
- The In-App Communications: Harassment often starts with messages before the ride begins. Uber holds these on their servers, but they can be purged.
- Forensic Kits: If you have not done so, seek a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) exam at a Fort Worth hospital like JPS Health Network or Texas Health Harris Methodist. This provides the medical “gold standard” for civil evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations for an Uber assault in Texas?
In Texas, the general statute of limitations for personal injury is two years from the date of the incident. However, for sexual assault, there may be different rules depending on the specific circumstances and when the trauma was “discovered.” You should never wait to consult an attorney, as evidence like GPS logs can vanish in months.
Do I have to join the “class action” against Uber?
Technically, it is not a class action; it is an MDL (Multi-District Litigation). This is better for you. In an MDL, your case remains your own. You have your own attorney, your own facts, and your own settlement. We use the shared discovery of the 3,000+ other plaintiffs to make your individual case stronger.
Can I sue if the driver was never caught or convicted?
Yes. The burden of proof in a civil case is “a preponderance of the evidence” (more likely than not), which is much lower than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard required for a prison sentence. We can use your testimony, app data, and Uber’s history of complaints against that driver to prove your case.
What if I was intoxicated during the ride?
Being intoxicated does not give anyone the right to assault you. In fact, under Texas law, if Uber’s driver targeted you because you were vulnerable, it strengthens the argument that they failed in their duty as a common carrier to provide a safe environment for all passengers.
How much does it cost to hire Attorney911?
We work on a contingency fee basis. This means we don’t get paid unless we win your case. Our fee is 33.33% if we settle before trial and 40% if we have to go to court. We provide a free consultation and handle all the upfront costs of the investigation.
What if the assault happened outside of Fort Worth?
We are a trial firm that takes Texas cases statewide. Whether your ride was in Dallas, Arlington, or a rural part of Tarrant County, the same Texas common carrier laws and federal MDL rules apply.
Will my name be made public if I sue?
In many cases involving sexual trauma, we can petition the court to allow you to proceed as a “Jane Doe” to protect your privacy while we pursue the corporation.
Is Uber responsible for a “third-party” assault?
If you were assaulted by another passenger or a stranger because the driver stopped in an unsafe location or failed to lock the doors, Uber may still be liable for negligent security.
Meet Our Trial Team: The Attorney911 Advantage
When you call 1-888-ATTY-911, you aren’t talking to a call center. You are talking to a team of competitors who hate to lose.
Ralph P. Manginello is our managing partner with over 27 years of experience in Texas courtrooms. He is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the Million Dollar Member of the Trial Lawyers Achievement Association. Ralph was a journalist before he was a lawyer, and he knows how to tell a survivor’s story in a way that makes a jury listen.
Lupe Peña is our associate attorney and a third-generation Texan. As a former insurance-defense lawyer for a national firm, Lupe knows exactly how adjusters value these claims and the delay tactics they use to wear you down. He uses that inside knowledge to stay three steps ahead of Uber’s legal team. Lupe is fluent in Spanish and conducts full consultations without an interpreter.
Hablamos Español. Our staff is bilingual and trauma-informed, ready to listen to your story 24/7.
Your Roadmap to Accountability
If you have been hurt, your first job is to breathe. Your second job is to protect your rights.
- Seek Medical Care: Go to a trauma center immediately. Your health is the priority, and the medical record is the foundation of your claim.
- Screenshot Everything: Take photos of the driver’s profile, the trip map, and any messages.
- Do Not Delete the App: This is tempting, but the app itself contains the metadata we need.
- Call a Professional: Contact us for a free consultation. We will walk you through the process, explain the brain injury risks associated with trauma, and help you understand the workplace accident standards if you were on the clock at the time.
You got into that car because you believed you were safe. Uber broke that promise. We are here to make them pay for it.
Attorney911 — Legal Emergency Lawyers™
1-888-ATTY-911
No Fee Unless We Win.