Justice Department Sues Uber for Alleged Discrimination Against People with Disabilities Under ADA
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated legal action against ride-hailing service provider, Uber, alleging violations of federal law regarding discrimination against individuals with physical disabilities.
The DOJ’s civil rights division asserts that Uber and its drivers regularly deny service to individuals with disabilities, including those accompanied by service animals or using foldable wheelchairs. Moreover, the complaint accuses Uber of imposing additional fees on riders who require special accommodations, and charging cancellation fees when services are denied – actions that contravene the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to the DOJ.
In a statement, the DOJ contends that Uber “denies people with disabilities full and equal enjoyment of its services in several critical ways.” The department further alleges that Uber persistently fails to make necessary adjustments to its policies, practices, or procedures to prevent discrimination against riders with disabilities.
These actions, the DOJ maintains, have caused “significant economic, emotional, and physical harm” to individuals with disabilities.
Responding to these allegations, Uber stated that it disagrees fundamentally with the claims made by the DOJ. The company asserts a strict zero-tolerance policy against confirmed service denials and mandates that drivers comply with its U.S. Service Animal Policy and all relevant accessibility laws before using the Uber Driver app.
Uber emphasized that it regularly reminds drivers of these obligations, and when violations are confirmed, it takes decisive action, including deactivating driver accounts permanently.
Uber has been confronted with accusations of discriminatory practices towards individuals with physical disabilities for some time. In 2021, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against Uber for overcharging disabled passengers, leading to a settlement in 2022 where Uber paid millions of dollars to more than 65,000 affected users. The company has also faced numerous personal lawsuits from passengers claiming similar discrimination and public protests.
According to the complaint filed in California’s Northern District Court on Thursday, the DOJ notified Uber in 2024 that its treatment of disabled riders was under investigation. In response, Uber introduced a feature allowing passengers to self-identify if they were traveling with service animals.
