Legal Help For Survivors Nationwide
Legal Help For Survivors Nationwide
It may not be. How long you have depends on where the assault happened and what kind of claim you bring. In New York, survivors of rape and certain other serious sex crimes may have up to 20 years to file certain civil claims. Depending on the facts, claims may be brought against the alleged perpetrator and, in some circumstances, against other parties whose conduct is alleged to have contributed to the harm, including a rideshare company [1]. Other claims have much shorter deadlines, some only 1 year [2]. Because some deadlines are short, it’s worth finding out yours soon.
Not sure how much time you have? Survivor’s Justice connects survivors with experienced, compassionate lawyers who handle claims against Uber and Lyft. A free, confidential case review can tell you whether you may have a claim and which deadlines may apply, with no pressure and no obligation.
We can help answer your questions and connect you with an attorney if you may have a case.
New York’s deadlines depend on what happened and who the claim is against. These are the main ones:
| Claim | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Rape or certain other serious sex crimes, against the alleged perpetrator and, in some circumstances, other parties whose conduct is alleged to have contributed to the harm, such as a rideshare company | 20 years [1] |
| Assault or battery against the driver, such as unwanted touching | 1 year [2] |
| Negligence against a company, such as inadequate driver screening | 3 years [3] |
| Gender-motivated violence in New York City, under a city law | 7 years [4] |
| Sexual abuse of someone under 18 | Until the survivor turns 55 [5] |
About the 20-year rule. It covers conduct that would be rape or certain other serious sex crimes under New York law. You don’t need a criminal charge or a conviction to sue [1]. The 20-year rule took effect on September 18, 2019, and it also covers earlier assaults if the deadline in place at the time hadn’t run out by then [6].
A criminal case can add time. If the driver is criminally charged, you have at least 1 year after the criminal case ends to sue the driver, even if your deadline has already passed. If the charge is first-degree rape or certain other serious sex crimes, you have at least 5 years [2]. If the driver is convicted, you can also sue the driver within 7 years of the crime [7].
New York City. For assaults in the city, the Gender-Motivated Violence Act can allow a claim within 7 years [4]. Since January 2022, that law also covers a party that “directs, enables, participates in, or conspires in” the violence, not only the person who committed it [8].
If you were under 18. New York lets survivors of sexual offenses committed against them as children sue until they turn 55. Depending on the facts, claims may be brought against the alleged perpetrator and, in some circumstances, against other parties whose negligence is alleged to have contributed to the abuse [5].
These rules can overlap, and which one fits depends on the facts of your case. Our New York rideshare laws guide covers more of the state’s rules, including how rideshare works in New York City.
Every state sets its own filing deadlines, called statutes of limitations. If a case is filed too late, the other side can ask the court to dismiss it. The clock usually starts on the day the events behind the claim happened [9].
There is no single national deadline. In most states, the general deadline for injury claims is 2 or 3 years, and in a few it’s only 1 year. States often set separate deadlines for assault and battery [9], so a claim against the driver and a claim that the company was negligent can run on different clocks. Some states give survivors of sexual abuse extra time in certain cases, as New York does [1].
In Washington, for example, a claim for assault or battery generally must be filed within 2 years [10]. Other injury claims, such as negligence, generally have 3 years [11]. For sexual abuse of a child that happened on or after June 6, 2024, Washington has no time limit on claims based on intentional conduct [12].
If the assault happened in a state other than the one you live in, ask a lawyer which deadline applies to you.
Uber’s and Lyft’s terms of service include arbitration agreements, which send many disputes to a private arbitrator instead of a court. Both companies’ terms leave out individual claims of sexual assault or sexual harassment [13][14].
Federal law backs this up. The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act became law on March 3, 2022. It lets a survivor take a sexual assault case to court even if they agreed to arbitration, for claims that arose on or after that date [15]. These rules decide where your case is heard, not how long you have to file it.
Federal sexual assault cases against Uber and Lyft from across the country are grouped into one national proceeding for each company, so the pretrial steps happen together [16][17]. The Lyft cases were grouped in February 2026. According to allegations summarized in the transfer order, plaintiffs contend that Lyft failed to properly screen drivers, respond to complaints, or adopt additional safety measures [16].
These national groups don’t replace the state deadlines. When a federal court hears a claim that comes from state law, such as negligence, it generally applies that state’s filing deadline [19]. Our Uber lawsuit guide and Lyft lawsuit guide explain how these cases work.
No. Under New York’s 20-year rule, you don’t need a criminal charge or conviction to bring a civil case [1]. Reporting to the police is your choice. If the driver is criminally charged, that can give you extra time to sue the driver [2].
It still may not be too late. In New York, the 20-year rule also covers assaults from before September 18, 2019, if the deadline in place at the time hadn’t run out by then [6]. A criminal case against the driver can also reopen time to sue the driver [2]. A lawyer can check the dates in your case.
New York’s state deadlines, including the 20-year rule, apply anywhere in the state [1]. Only the 7-year rule under the Gender-Motivated Violence Act is a New York City law [4].
Yes, and it’s separate from a lawsuit. New York’s Office of Victim Services (OVS) can help pay medical and counseling costs and lost wages that other sources don’t cover [20]. Since December 31, 2025, survivors have 3 years to file a claim with OVS, counted from the crime or from when it was discovered, and late claims can be accepted for good reasons. Instead of a police report, a victim service provider or a medical or mental health professional can confirm what happened [21].
No. A consultation through Survivor’s Justice is free and confidential. You can learn whether you may have a claim and what your next steps could be, with no obligation.
Survivor’s Justice connects survivors with experienced, compassionate lawyers who handle claims against Uber and Lyft. The consultation is free and confidential, and you decide what happens next. If a deadline may be approaching, reaching out sooner may help preserve your legal options.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Reading it doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship.
Being assaulted by a Lyft or Uber driver is not your fault. You deserve answers. You deserve advocacy. And most of all—you deserve justice.
Let us help you move forward.
Contact Survivors Justice now for your free, private consultation.
