Idaho passenger raped by Lyft driver sues the ride-sharing company

Carolyn Komatsoulis, The Idaho Statesman on Sep 5, 2026

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BOISE, Idaho — An Idaho woman who was raped by her Lyft driver is suing the popular ride-sharing company, seeking to hold it liable.

The woman was strangled and raped by her Lyft driver in August 2024, according to the lawsuit. The driver was found guilty at trial in June of kidnapping, rape and forcible penetration by use of a foreign object. Other women had complained of the driver’s “propensity for sexual aggression,” the lawsuit said.

“Profits are Lyft’s priority,” the lawsuit said. “While there is nothing inherently wrong for any company to make a profit, it is inherently wrong for a company to make a profit by exposing women to sexual assault.”

Sexual assaults in rideshares have been a problem for Uber and Lyft, according to The New York Times, though both companies have said that the vast majority of rides are safe. Twice this year, Uber was found liable for driver assaults of passengers.

The lawsuit argues that Lyft needs as many drivers as possible to increase profits and failed to adequately screen applicants. Lyft also doesn’t fingerprint its drivers unless required by law and doesn’t provide adequate background checks, the lawsuit alleged. Training for drivers about issues like sexual misconduct was below industry standards, the lawsuit said, and Lyft could have used in-vehicle cameras and GPS tracking to better monitor rides.

Lyft also generally does not cooperate with the police after sexual assault accusations against drivers without a subpoena, the lawsuit said.

In a statement to The Idaho Statesman, a Lyft spokesperson said “any act of violence has no place in the Lyft community or our society.”

“Our goal is for everyone to feel safe and respected on the Lyft platform, and we continue our work to promote safety for the millions of people who use Lyft every day,” the spokesperson said.

For the Idaho woman, an August 2024 night became a horrific experience, according to the lawsuit. The woman, who had a seizure disorder and related brain damage, took a Lyft from her Boise home to a friend’s home near Eagle, the lawsuit said. She hung out with friends and did not drink any alcohol or take any drugs.

Around midnight, the woman ordered a Lyft at a nearby gas station in Eagle. When the car and driver arrived, the woman checked the description on her app, the lawsuit said.

The driver strangled and raped the woman after the ride began, the lawsuit said. But after an hour or two, another car pulled up alongside: The woman’s roommate, who realized she should have returned by then, located the woman’s phone and drove to that location.

The roommate approached the Lyft car as the driver frantically tried to drive away, according to the lawsuit. But the roommate managed to unlock the car and pull the woman out. The two drove home, where the woman called police and received treatment.

The rape aggravated the woman’s existing brain damage and seizure disorder, the lawsuit said. Since the assault, the woman has experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. She faces issues including cognitive impairment, periods of unconsciousness and an inability to function.

The driver’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 16, according to online court records. The driver is seeking a new trial after Idaho State Police disclosed a potential DNA lab issue, though ISP said the effect was “minimal,” according to court records.

“Lyft knew that it was exposing passengers to the risk of sexual assault by its drivers at the same time the Perpetrator knew he was a risk of sexual assault to passengers,” the Idaho lawsuit said. “… By failing to take reasonable steps to confront the problem of multiple rapes and sexual assaults of Lyft passengers by Lyft drivers, Lyft has acted in conscious disregard for the safety of its passengers.”