Credit: Austin Distel on Unsplash The US Justice Department has sued Lyft over riders with disabilities. It alleges that the ride-hailing company and its drivers routinely refuse to serve them, including blind riders with guide dogs and people who use stowable wheelchairs. The department filed its 36-page complaint on 9 November in federal court in Northern California. It accuses Lyft of breaking Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In a statement, the department said it is seeking $53M for people who complained to Lyft or to the department, as Reuters and the Associated Press reported. “Individuals with disabilities should be able to rely on rideshare services free of discrimination,” said Jesus A. Osete, the acting assistant attorney general for civil rights, in the statement. Lyft rejected the allegations and said it had cooperated with the department throughout its review. “We have long-standing policies requiring drivers to accommodate riders who travel with service animals or use foldable mobility devices, and drivers who violate these policies face serious consequences, including permanent deactivation,” Lyft said in a statement. What the Lyft lawsuit alleges The department says Lyft receives thousands of complaints each year alleging disability discrimination.
It says the company denies service to “hundreds, and likely thousands” of riders with service animals or mobility devices. The complaint names 14 riders across the country. Several describe drivers saying “no dog” and driving off. Some drivers told riders to book Lyft Pet, which adds a $4 fee for pets.
They were mixing up pets with service animals. Judge David Tatel is blind. In 2023, a driver screamed at him and his wife to get out of the car because of his guide dog, the complaint says. In September 2026, another driver locked the doors and drove away.
Lyft gave him a $10 credit, which he found insulting. Other riders say drivers left without cancelling, so Lyft charged them a no-show fee. Sharon Zenger is a deaf-blind teacher who uses Lyft to travel between schools. She had to send Lyft a video to get her fee back.
Lisa Harris has neuropathy in her feet and needs the front seat to avoid falling. A driver refused to let her sit there. Lyft added an opt-in feature that tells drivers about a service animal only after it learned of the investigation, the department alleges. The denials continued anyway.
It says Lyft does not properly train drivers and support staff, monitor drivers, or deal with complaints. Credits of $5 and $10 were common, it says. The department wants the court to order Lyft to stop, change its policies and train its drivers on the ADA. It also wants damages for the riders, a civil penalty and a jury trial.
Uber faces a similar case The department sued Uber over the same issue in September 2025, seeking $125M. That case is ongoing, and Uber disputes the allegations. Lyft has settled with the government before. In 2020, it agreed to pay four riders and a $40,000 penalty over drivers refusing riders with foldable wheelchairs in the Los Angeles area.
In that deal, it denied that the ADA applied to it. The lawsuit lands as Lyft pushes for more riders. It launched its Lyft Go membership with DoorDash on 5 November, after its best quarter ever in the summer. It is also adding Waymo robotaxis to its app.
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