U.S. Justice Department Sues Lyft Amid Thousands of Annual Disability Discrimination Complaints
Key Facts
The U.S. Justice Department accused Lyft and its drivers of refusing rides to passengers with disabilities, including users of service animals or folding wheelchairs. The department said in its complaint that Lyft receives thousands of complaints annually alleging disability discrimination. The government is seeking monetary compensation for affected riders, a court order barring discrimination and changes to the company's policies. It is also seeking training for Lyft's officers, employees and drivers on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as a civil penalty. The department requested a jury trial.
The complaint alleges that hundreds, and possibly thousands, of people with disabilities were denied service because they traveled with service animals or used wheelchairs and other mobility devices. The cases cited by the department include passengers it said were unable to complete rides because of their disabilities or the mobility aids they use. The complaint also accuses Lyft of charging some of these passengers, including cancellation fees, after refusing them service. The department describes these fees as impermissible when charged to passengers who were unlawfully denied service. The government's demands are based on its allegations concerning service denials, fees, policies and training.
The complaint said Lyft, after being notified of the department's investigation into discrimination complaints, added an optional feature allowing riders to tell drivers in advance that they were traveling with a service animal. But the department alleges that service denials continued after the feature was added. The Justice Department says the Americans with Disabilities Act requires private transportation companies to allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in vehicles. The requirements, according to the department, include providing equal service and helping store mobility devices when needed. They also prohibit additional charges or disability-related burdens.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Lyft said it is cooperating with the Justice Department and seeking to resolve the matter. The company added that it denies any wrongdoing and intends to continue vigorously defending itself. It also said the chances of success in the case are uncertain and that it cannot reasonably estimate the potential loss or its range. In a separate case in Minnesota, authorities announced a settlement in March 2026 that included training drivers on the rights of passengers with disabilities and monitoring Lyft's compliance for 3 years. The company said at the time that it had maintained a service-animal policy for nearly a decade and that drivers who violate it could face permanent deactivation.