DOJ seeks $53 million from Lyft in disability-access lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit against Lyft Inc. on Nov. 9, 2026, alleging a pattern or practice of disability discrimination under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

The department says it is seeking $53 million in damages for people with disabilities whom Lyft allegedly discriminated against and who submitted complaints to Lyft or the Justice Department. It also asks the court for an injunction, policy changes, ADA training and a civil penalty. These are requested remedies, not a court award or order. The department’s announcement gives the $53 million figure; the complaint requests damages but does not state that amount.

What the complaint alleges i

The complaint alleges that Lyft drivers refused rides to people traveling with service animals or using stowable wheelchairs and other mobility devices. It also alleges disability-related charges, including cancellation fees after alleged ride refusals, and failures to make reasonable modifications. One example is allowing a rider to sit in the front seat when needed.

The government also alleges shortcomings in driver training and monitoring and in the handling of disability complaints. The complaint says Lyft receives thousands of disability-discrimination complaints each year and estimates that hundreds, likely thousands, of people with disabilities have been denied service. Those figures are allegations in the complaint, not verified counts. The complaint describes Lyft as providing transportation in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

Lyft disputes the allegations i

Lyft rejects the accusations. The Associated Press reported that the company says its policies require drivers to accommodate riders with service animals or mobility devices, and that drivers who violate those rules can face consequences, including possible permanent deactivation.

In a Nov. 6, 2026, quarterly filing, Lyft said the Justice Department had notified it in September of alleged ADA violations. Lyft said it was cooperating with the department while disputing wrongdoing. The complaint challenges not only alleged ride denials, but also whether accommodations were made and how the company trained drivers, monitored conduct and handled complaints.

The lawsuit is pending, and filing it does not require Lyft to pay damages or change its policies. The complaint requests a jury trial, but that request is not a scheduled trial. Whether the court will order any of the requested relief remains undecided.

This case is separate from Lyft’s 2020 settlement and Uber’s 2022 settlement in other rideshare cases, the Associated Press reported. Those settlements do not resolve the allegations against Lyft in this lawsuit.