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Lyft Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Assault of Michigan Teen as Utah Case Raises New Safety Questions

The cases spotlight claims that Lyft’s design discourages safety interventions.

Overview

  • A Brighton mother filed a federal lawsuit on Feb. 10 alleging Lyft enabled a 2023 trip in which her then-14-year-old daughter was taken to a man’s home and sexually assaulted.
  • The complaint says Lyft’s call center did not halt the ride despite the mother reporting that her underage daughter was being transported without parental consent.
  • The family’s attorney says charges have been filed in the Michigan case, that an active warrant exists, and that the suspect is believed to have fled to Morocco.
  • In a separate Feb. 7 incident in Utah, a 15-year-old escaped after a Lyft driver canceled the ride mid-trip and drove off route, with surveillance footage showing her sprinting to safety.
  • Lyft told ABC News it removed the Utah driver and will assist investigators, and it announced a new Lyft Teen service within 48 hours that lets parents monitor rides for users ages 13 to 17.