Lyft accused of ignoring 'ongoing sexual assaults' in disturbing lawsuit

The number keeps growing.

Lyft is facing yet another lawsuit, filed Wednesday in San Francisco, by 21 women alleging they were sexually assaulted or raped while using the ride-hail service. What's more, claims the suit, the company failed to address a known "sexual predator crisis" among its drivers.

The lawsuit, published in full by Insider Inc., follows a September suit by 14 other women with similar allegations. Essentially, argue the plaintiffs in the most recent case, Lyft put its riders in danger.

"At least as early as 2015, LYFT, including Lyft's officers, directors and/or managing agents, became aware that LYFT drivers were sexually assaulting and raping female customers," notes the lawsuit. "LYFT's response to this sexual predator crisis amongst LYFT drivers has been appallingly inadequate," it later adds.

When reached for comment, a Lyft spokesperson acknowledged the severity of the women's claims.

"What these women describe is something no one should ever have to endure," wrote the spokesperson. "Everyone deserves the ability to move about the world safely, yet women still face disproportionate risks."

At the heart of the matter, according to the suit, is that Lyft allegedly failed and continues to fail to boot dangerous drivers from its platform.

"LYFT continues to allow culpable drivers who have complaints of rape and sexual assault lodged against them to keep driving for LYFT," reads the lawsuit.

The suit asks that Lyft cover medical costs associated with the assaults, as well as compensatory damages.

Lyft, which is based in San Francisco, told Mashable that it launched over 15 safety features in the latter half of this year. These features, wrote the spokesperson, include in-app emergency assistance and "daily continuous criminal background monitoring of all of our drivers."

Notably, Lyft says it has also partnered with RAINN, an anti-sexual violence organization, in an effort to provide "required sexual violence prevention education."

While those are all great steps, they do not change the reality of the 21 women at the heart of Wednesday's lawsuit.