Uber & Lyft Drivers Accused Of Child Sexual Abuse

Uber and Lyft are facing multiple allegations of sexual and physical assaults connected with their rideshare services. In fact, both companies are facing a rising number of rideshare assault lawsuits. 

Furthermore, drivers for both companies have been named in recent allegations of child sexual abuse. Uber and Lyft’s policies prohibit underage riders. However, multiple Uber and Lyft drivers in several states have been accused of sexually assaulting underage passengers.

Uber Drivers Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Minors

Recently, two Uber drivers in Houston, Texas, and Fairfield, Connecticut, were accused of assaulting minors.

Houston Uber Driver Arrested For Sexual Assault Of Minor

On May 12, 2021, Houston Uber driver, Leonel Medina, picked up a 15-year-old passenger. According to court documents, Medina drove the victim to a dead-end street and turned off the car. He then moved to the back seat where he sexually assaulted the underage passenger multiple times. 

After the assault, the driver dropped off the victim at her home. The victim’s family promptly contacted the police and took the victim to the Texas Children’s Hospital. 

Medina was criminally charged with multiple accounts of sexual assault of a child under 17 years of age. He confessed to the assault during initial questioning. However, since warrants have been issued, Medina is on the run. 

Uber banned Medina from the rideshare platform following the assault.

Connecticut Uber Driver Assaults Underage Passenger

In 2019, Uber driver Dwaine Miller was arrested and charged with the sexual assault of a minor. 

According to the Fairfield Police Department’s news release, Miller picked up a juvenile passenger. During the ride, Miller allegedly engaged in sexual advances towards the minor. The driver’s advances escalated to unwanted sexual contact.

The victim’s father reported the incident to local law enforcement, and Miller was arrested. Miller was charged with sexual assault in the third degree. The alleged abuse occurred in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Uber’s App Policy Regarding Minors

Uber does not defend or condone the actions of these abusive drivers. However, in the face of these incidents, the company has highlighted its policy about minors using the app. 

According to Uber’s guidelines, an individual must be 18 years of age or older to request a ride. Anyone underage may only ride with the service if accompanied by an adult. Uber encourages drivers to decline ride requests from suspected underage individuals. 

Lyft has a similar policy for underage riders.

Lyft Driver Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Virginia Teen

In June 2021, a 17-year-old student in Virginia used Lyft to travel to and from school. The victim exchanged contact information with the driver in the morning and contacted him directly after school for a ride home. 

According to the allegations, the Lyft driver, Ejaz Hussain, sexually assaulted the minor on the ride back to the victim’s home. Hussain was charged with sexual battery offenses.

Assault Survivors Seek Legal Justice

Survivors of rideshare-related sexual violence are seeking justice against rideshare companies through the legal system. Uber and Lyft are facing multiple lawsuits over sexual and physical assaults that occurred using the companies’ apps. 

Survivors have won compensation through legal action, and many of these cases have led to changes within the rideshare companies. For example, Uber has taken several steps to prevent future assaults of drivers and passengers. As more survivors tell their stories, they are likely to inspire more positive change for the benefit of rideshare users nationwide.