The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against ride-hailing company Lyft, accusing it of systemic discrimination against passengers with disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that Lyft drivers repeatedly refused rides to disabled passengers and then slapped those riders with cancellation fees.
According to the DOJ, the alleged misconduct includes denials of service to individuals traveling with service animals and those using stowable wheelchairs or other mobility aids. The department says it receives thousands of disability-related complaints each year and that Lyft's practices run afoul of Title III of the ADA, which bars discrimination in places of public accommodation.
“Lyft has discriminated against individuals with disabilities, in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act … through its policies and practices of denying or providing unequal services to individuals with disabilities, including individuals with service animals or individuals who use stowable wheelchairs or mobility devices,” the lawsuit states.
In response, a Lyft spokesperson pushed back against the allegations, insisting that the company already has robust protections in place. “We have long-standing policies that require drivers to accommodate riders who travel with service animals or use foldable mobility devices for years, and drivers who violate these policies face serious consequences, including losing access to Lyft permanently,” the spokesperson said. “We’ve worked with the DOJ throughout its review, and we’ll keep working to make sure every rider can get where they need to go.”
This is not the first time the federal government has taken aim at Lyft over disability access. In 2020, the company settled a similar lawsuit with the DOJ. The department has also pursued legal action against Lyft's main competitor, Uber, on two occasions—once in 2022 and again in 2025—over analogous allegations.
The DOJ is seeking a court order that would bar Lyft from engaging in discriminatory practices, require the company to revise its policies, and mandate better driver training. The government is also asking for monetary damages for the individuals affected, several of whom are named in the complaint.
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian, whose office is handling the case, underscored the seriousness of the allegations. “We take these allegations of misconduct seriously and, like our case against Uber for similar discriminatory conduct, we will devote all the resources necessary to make things right. The stakes are high and we owe those with disabilities nothing less,” he said in a statement.
The lawsuit adds to the mounting legal and regulatory pressure on ride-hailing platforms over accessibility. Advocacy groups have long argued that drivers often refuse rides to passengers with disabilities, and the DOJ's latest action signals that the federal government is willing to escalate enforcement. The case also highlights the broader debate over how gig-economy companies handle civil rights obligations, a topic that has drawn attention from lawmakers and regulators alike.
As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome could have significant implications for Lyft's operations and for the ride-hailing industry as a whole. The DOJ's move is part of a broader federal push to enforce the ADA in the modern transportation landscape, and it follows similar actions against other companies. For now, Lyft maintains that its policies already comply with federal law, but the Justice Department appears determined to test that claim in court.
