Lyft accused of charging disabled passengers fees after drivers refused to transport them in $53M lawsuit. Lyft billed riders after drivers refused trips involving guide dogs, wheelchairs or other disability-related accommodation needs. Published 11 November 2026, 4:43 PM GMT Lyft charged passengers with disabilities cancellation fees for rides its drivers refused to give them, the US Justice Department alleges in a $53 million (£39.5 million) lawsuit. The complaint was filed on 9 November 2026 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. It says Lyft breached the Americans with Disabilities Act, which bars transport firms from refusing disabled riders or adding disability-related charges. The money is for riders who complained to Lyft or the department. It also seeks a civil penalty, a court order forcing policy changes and driver training, and a jury trial. Lyft disputes the allegations. How Lyft riders allegedly ended up paying for refused trips. Sharon Zenger, a deaf-blind teacher from Vancouver, Washington, was turned away in June 2026 by a driver who repeatedly said 'no dog' and locked his doors, the complaint says. Ignoring her request to cancel, he parked nearby with the trip still open. Lyft allegedly charged her a no-show fee, refunding it only after she complained with video. The amount is not stated. Patricia Ebel of Secaucus, New Jersey, who is legally blind, was allegedly refused by three drivers in a row on her July 2025 commute home. One left without ending the booking, and she was billed a cancellation fee. James Rath, a legally blind man from Franklin, Tennessee, was stranded at an airport late at night in June 2026. The driver allegedly refused his guide dog and drove off without ending the trip, so Rath could not book another car. Government lawyers say Lyft, which sets the rules on cancellation fees, refunds them only when passengers complain and does not check independently for wrongful charges. Lyft's $10 answer to complaints. Lyft allegedly did not follow up on Rath's complaint until he posted on social media three months later, then gave him a $10 (£7.45) credit. Retired federal appeals judge David Tatel, who is blind, received a form reply and the same credit after a driver allegedly locked him, his wife, and his guide dog out of the car in September 2026. Lyft refused to say whether the driver was removed, citing privacy. The department says Lyft added an opt-in tool for flagging a service animal only after learning of the investigation. Rath, Zenger, and Ebel all used it and were still refused. Lyft gets thousands of disability discrimination complaints yearly, the filing says. The 14 riders named come from 12 states and Washington, DC, and include wheelchair users. In a statement, Lyft said: 'Discrimination has no place in the Lyft community.' It said drivers who break its accommodation policies face 'serious consequences, including permanent deactivation,' and that it had cooperated with the review. Not the first federal clash for Lyft and Uber. In June 2020, Lyft settled, without admitting wrongdoing, Justice Department allegations involving users of folding wheelchairs and walkers. It paid a $40,000 (£29,800) civil penalty, compensated four riders, and agreed for three years to refund cancellation charges and issue credits of at least $10 (£7.45) on plausible complaints. US Attorney Craig H. Missakian of the Northern District of California, whose office is also suing Uber, pledged 'all the resources necessary to make things right.' The Uber suit, filed in September 2025, seeks $125 million (£93.2 million) and alleges Uber charged cleaning fees for service animal shedding and cancellation fees to riders it refused. A judge refused to dismiss it on 5 March 2026. No trial date has been set.

DOJ sues Lyft for denying rides to passengers with wheelchairs, service dogs. Published November 10, 2026 4:42 PM EST GCT - U.S. News Uber, Lyft ride-hailing vehicles have more germs than taxis and toilet seats, study says A new study revealed that Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing vehicles typically host more germs than rental cars, taxis and toilet seats. The brief. * * The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking $53 million in damages, alleging Lyft drivers denied rides to passengers with disabilities, including those with service animals and wheelchairs. * The lawsuit claims Lyft failed to accommodate passengers, improperly charged cancellation fees after denying rides, and did not make reasonable policy changes to ensure equal access to transportation. * Lyft says it has policies requiring drivers to accommodate passengers with service animals and foldable mobility devices. The Justice Department is suing Lyft, alleging the rideshare company discriminated against passengers with disabilities, including those who use service animals and mobility devices such as wheelchairs. The lawsuit, which was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, is seeking $53 million in damages for individuals with disabilities, who the department says experienced discrimination and submitted complaints to Lyft or the Justice Department. DOJ sues Lyft for denying rides to passengers with service dogs, wheelchairs. Big picture view: The department alleges Lyft violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which prohibits private transportation companies, such as Lyft, from discriminating based on disability. The DOJ also alleges that drivers routinely refuse rides to passengers with disabilities, including people traveling with service animals or stowable wheelchairs. The lawsuit claims Lyft failed to accommodate passengers, improperly charged cancellation fees after denying rides, and did not make reasonable policy changes to ensure equal access to transportation. (Credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) The civil complaint also accuses Lyft of charging improper fees, including cancellation fees, to passengers who were unlawfully denied service. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges the company failed to make reasonable changes to its policies and practices to accommodate riders with disabilities, including allowing passengers with mobility limitations to sit in the front seat when necessary. What they're saying: "Individuals with disabilities should be able to rely on rideshare services free of discrimination," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jesus A. Osete of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "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." U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California continued, "Our purpose in the Department of Justice is often to fight for what's right on behalf of those who can't fight for themselves. And there are few areas where the fight is more important than in ensuring equal access to transportation services for all Americans." He also said, "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." The other side: FOX Local reached out to Lyft for comment. "We disagree with the Department of Justice's allegations," Lyft said in a statement to FOX Local. "Every rider deserves access to rides, period. 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." Lyft continued, "We've built that commitment into the app too, so riders can let drivers know ahead of time they're traveling with a service animal and drivers are reminded that refusing one is against the law. 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." Lawsuit seeks court order. What's next: The lawsuit is seeking a court order to force Lyft to stop discriminating against individuals with disabilities, to modify its policies to comply with the ADA, and to train its staff and drivers on the ADA. In addition to the monetary damages to compensate aggrieved individuals subjected to Lyft's discrimination, the lawsuit demands that Lyft pay a civil penalty to vindicate the public's interest in eliminating disability discrimination. The Source: The information for this story was provided by a lawsuit by the Department of Justice and a statement from Lyft. This story was reported from Los Angeles.

DOJ sues Lyft for routinely denying rides to disabled. Jim Mishler Tue, November 10, 2026 at 1:01 PM PST The Justice Department has sued Lyft, alleging the ride-hailing company and its drivers routinely refuse service to people with disabilities, including riders with service animals or stowable wheelchairs. The new case, filed in federal court in Northern California, seeks $53 million for riders with disabilities who complained to Lyft or the department, according to a Justice Department media release. "Individuals with disabilities should be able to rely on ride-share services free of discrimination," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jesus A. Osete of the department's Civil Rights Division. The complaint also accuses Lyft of charging cancellation fees to riders it unlawfully turned away and of refusing reasonable modifications to its policies, such as letting riders with mobility disabilities sit in the front seat when needed. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Lyft must transport riders with disabilities and their service animals and assist riders with stowable wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Emotional support dogs do not qualify as service animals under the law. The department wants a court order requiring Lyft to stop the alleged discrimination, revise its policies, and train its staff and drivers on the ADA. It is also seeking a civil penalty. "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," U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian of the Northern District of California said. The New York Times reported that Lyft issued a statement disagreeing with the DOJ. "Discrimination has no place in the Lyft community," the company said. "We have longstanding 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 added that it cooperated with the Justice Department throughout its review. In 2020, Lyft resolved earlier allegations that its drivers denied rides to people who used wheelchairs or walkers, agreeing to revise its policies, pay damages to four passengers, and pay a $40,000 civil penalty. The Times also reported that the department sued Uber last year, seeking $125 million. Uber disputed those allegations.