Uber heads into a closely watched courtroom battle in Arizona this week, a case that could ripple far beyond one woman’s claim and into the heart of how the ride-hailing giant answers for passenger safety.
At the center of the trial is an Oklahoma woman who says she was sexually assaulted by a driver she booked through the Uber app while traveling in Arizona. Her case is the first of its kind to reach a U.S. federal courtroom, despite the fact that Uber is facing more than 3,000 similar claims nationwide.
The verdict is being treated as a test run. Its outcome may influence how the rest of the cases are valued or resolved, potentially shaping Uber’s financial exposure and its standing with regulators and investors who have long scrutinized the company’s safety record.
The woman filed suit in 2023, arguing that Uber knew for years about a pattern of sexual assaults involving drivers and failed to take basic steps to better protect riders. Those allegations echo criticisms that have followed the company for much of its rise, including claims that growth once outpaced safeguards.
Uber rejects responsibility for what it calls criminal acts committed by individuals who use its platform. The company says its drivers are independent contractors, not employees, and maintains that it cannot be held accountable for conduct that falls outside a driver’s expected role. Uber also points to its background checks and public disclosures as evidence that it has met its obligations.
According to the lawsuit, the woman had been drinking when she requested a ride from her boyfriend’s home to her hotel. She alleges the driver asked intrusive questions during the trip, then stopped the car and assaulted her.
Beyond the federal cases, Uber is also contending with hundreds of related claims in California state courts. In the only trial there so far, a jury found the company’s safety measures lacking but concluded that those shortcomings were not a decisive cause of the harm alleged.
In recent years, Uber has made safety a centerpiece of its public messaging. It now publishes detailed U.S. safety reports and has rolled out tools such as ride verification, optional audio and video recording, and automated systems designed to flag unusual behavior. The company has also partnered with survivor advocacy groups to update driver education and response protocols.
Still, the questions linger. Critics say the Phoenix trial will test whether Uber’s evolving safety narrative can withstand judicial scrutiny—or whether the company will be forced to rethink how it balances scale, responsibility, and trust on a platform used by millions each day.
A judge overseeing the broader litigation declined Uber’s request to delay the trial, clearing the way for proceedings to begin as scheduled. The outcome could mark a turning point in one of the most consequential safety reckonings the gig-economy pioneer has faced.
