State Representative Jenny Willford of Colorado has filed a lawsuit against Lyft, accusing the company of failing to address what she describes as a “systemic problem” of sexual assault involving fake rideshare accounts. In February 2024, Willford was sexually assaulted by a man pretending to be a Lyft driver. During a press conference, she shared the harrowing details of her experience—how the driver, who asked inappropriate questions, blocked her from exiting the vehicle and became increasingly aggressive.
What’s more alarming is that this alleged attacker was not even the driver she was matched with through the Lyft app. The lawsuit points to the issue of “account renting,” where legitimate accounts are shared or sold, allowing individuals without proper background checks to use rideshare services. Willford’s attorney, Morgan Carroll, argues that Lyft’s failure to tackle this problem has made passengers vulnerable to such assaults.
Adding to the tragedy is the severe backlog in DNA rape kit testing at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has left hundreds of victims, including Willford, waiting for justice. The backlog, caused in part by allegations of misconduct from a former CBI scientist, has dragged DNA testing times to over 500 days—far from the 90-day goal.
This shocking incident highlights the urgent need for rideshare companies to take stronger actions to ensure passenger safety, while also raising awareness about Colorado’s flawed criminal justice response to sexual assault cases. Willford’s lawsuit serves as a wake-up call for both Lyft and the state to implement immediate changes before more lives are impacted.
