DOJ Sues Lyft Over Alleged ADA Violations, Seeks $53 Million for Disabled Riders

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department sued Lyft on Monday, accusing the ride-hailing company of systematically discriminating against passengers with disabilities in violation of federal law and seeking $53 million in damages on their behalf.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that Lyft drivers routinely deny service to passengers who travel with service animals or use stowable wheelchairs, according to reporting by the Associated Press and ABC News. The complaint further alleges that Lyft then charges those same riders cancellation fees for rides they were wrongly refused.

The department contends Lyft broke Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which bars private transportation companies from discriminating on the basis of disability, according to Quartz, which reviewed the suit.

The government's complaint does not stop at driver conduct. It alleges Lyft does not adequately train its drivers and customer service representatives on their ADA obligations, does not monitor drivers to prevent discrimination, and does not provide meaningful relief to riders who are turned away, ABC News reported.

The suit names individual plaintiffs. Virginia Prince of California, who is blind and travels with a guide dog, claims she has been repeatedly denied Lyft rides because of the service animal, according to ABC News. The complaint describes other instances in which a denied rider received only a $10 credit as a remedy.

Lyft pushed back on the allegations. The company said it cooperated with the Justice Department throughout its review and remains committed to serving every rider, including those with disabilities, according to Fast Company, which quoted a company statement.

The DOJ is seeking a court order to stop the alleged discrimination, force policy modifications, and require improved driver training, The Hill reported. The department is also seeking a civil penalty to, in its phrasing, vindicate the public's interest in eliminating disability discrimination.

The case sits inside a broader federal enforcement pattern. The administration filed a similar lawsuit against Uber in 2025, which remains ongoing, according to Fast Company. The DOJ also sued Uber in 2022 over its wait-time fee policy, and Lyft itself settled an earlier federal disability discrimination suit in 2020 for roughly $82,000, covering four complainants and a payment to the U.S. Treasury.

Lyft's 2020 settlement required the company to modify its wheelchair policy and clarify driver obligations toward passengers with collapsible mobility devices. The new complaint implies those changes did not resolve the underlying conduct.

The department did not say when it expects the case to go to trial.

Sources cited:
- Associated Press via Fast Company (https://www.fastcompany.com/91639627/lyft-lawsuit-disability-discrimination)
- ABC News (https://abcnews.com/US/doj-sues-lyft-allegedly-discriminating-people-disabilities/story?id=138012629)
- Quartz (https://qz.com/lyft-justice-department-lawsuit-disability-discrimination-111026)
- The Hill (https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6211841-doj-sues-lyft-disability-discrimination/)
- UPI (https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/11/10/justice-dept-sues-lyft-alleging-discrimination/5841794336724)