US justice department sues Lyft over alleged refusal to serve passengers with disabilities

Lawsuit filed in California claims drivers routinely refuse to transport individuals with service animals or mobility devices

The Department of Justice sued Lyft on Monday, accusing the ride-share giant of discrimination for denying service to passengers with disabilities.

The federal lawsuit, which was filed in the US district court for the northern district of California, said Lyft drivers have routinely refused to transport individuals who depend on service animals or use mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, an alleged violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

In one example, provided in the complaint, a Nevada woman who uses a wheelchair, due to injuries from a near-fatal car accident, had a Lyft driver allegedly drive away, as she waved to catch his attention.

A Texas man who has vision and hearing impairments began to leave his guide dog at home, despite the challenges of navigating, to avoid further service denials, according to the suit.

The justice department accused Lyft of being privy to “widespread disability-based discrimination” on its platform, but failing to take action to prevent the alleged mistreatment.

“Individuals with disabilities should be able to rely on rideshare services free of discrimination,” said Jesus A Osete, acting assistant attorney general, in a statement. “We intend to uphold the ADA’s promise that people with disabilities are entitled to equal access in every part of public life, including essential transportation services.”

The lawsuit is the latest from the federal government that targets ride-hailing companies for treatment of would-be riders with disabilities. The administration filed a similar lawsuit against Uber last year, which is ongoing. Uber settled a separate suit in 2022, and Lyft settled a different one in 2020. The companies stress that their policies and in-app tools require that drivers provide ADA accommodations and remind them of the consequences of refusing to do so.

Lyft policies require drivers to accommodate riders who travel with service animals or mobility devices, and “drivers who violate these policies face serious consequences, including permanent deactivation”, the company said in a statement.

“We’ve cooperated with the DOJ throughout its review and remain committed to serving every rider, including riders with disabilities,” the company said.

The DoJ said it was seeking $53m for individuals who have been discriminated against and have submitted complaints to Lyft or the department.