The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Uber, claiming the ride-sharing platform discriminates against people with disabilities, including those who use service animals and wheelchairs.
The agency filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California on Thursday, Sept. 11.
“For too long, blind riders have suffered repeated ride denials by Uber because they are traveling with a service dog,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said in a Sept. 12 news release. “This lawsuit seeks to end this persistent discrimination and allow riders with disabilities to use Uber.”
In the lawsuit obtained and reviewed by USA TODAY, the DOJ is claiming the company violated Title III of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability by private transportation companies.
What has Uber said?
In a statement provided to USA TODAY on Tuesday, Sept. 16, Uber said it disagreed with the DOJ’s allegations.
“Riders who use guide dogs or other assistive devices deserve a safe, respectful, and welcoming experience on Uber—full stop,” the ride-sharing platform said, noting it has a “clear zero-tolerance policy for confirmed service denials.”
The ride-sharing company’s statement continued: “Every driver must acknowledge and agree to comply with our U.S. Service Animal Policy and all applicable accessibility laws before using the Uber Driver app, and we regularly remind drivers of these obligations.”
“When we confirm a violation, we take decisive action, including permanent account deactivation,” Uber said.
Uber added that “if a rider believes they were denied a ride because of their age or disability, including their use of a service animal or assistive device, they can report it to us through (the company’s) Accessibility Help Center through the app, over the phone, or on help.uber.com.”
“Any driver who denies transportation to a rider because of their age, disability status, use of a service animal or assistive device, or any other protected characteristic, risks permanent account deactivation,” the company said.
What are the allegations?
Federal investigators are alleging that Uber’s drivers routinely refuse to service individuals with disabilities and impose surcharges, such as cleaning fees for service dog shedding. Additionally, the DOJ said instances have occurred when Uber riders were forced to pay cancellation fees after being denied service.
“Due to Uber’s ride denials, individuals with disabilities have experienced significant delays, missed appointments, and have been left stranded in inclement weather,” the DOJ alleges in the lawsuit.
The complaint lists several people who say they’ve been discriminated against, including men and women from across the U.S. who either use guide dogs due to being blind, an amputee or having cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders.
The passengers outline similar stories in the complaint, such as Uber drivers speeding off once they see their guide dogs, as well as refusing to accommodate them, including not agreeing to take their wheelchairs.
The Uber logo is seen on the rear window of a taxi in Dublin, Ireland, June 29, 2025.
What are the goals of the lawsuit?
The DOJ is seeking a court order to further prevent Uber from discriminating against individuals with disabilities, to modify the company’s policies to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and to train its staff and drivers on the law.
Additionally, the DOJ is seeking monetary compensation for aggrieved individuals who it claims have been subjected to discrimination, as well as a civil penalty to help eliminate disability discrimination.
“We will enforce the ADA’s guarantee that people with disabilities have equal opportunity and full participation in all aspects of American society, including transportation,” the DOJ said in the release.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Uber sued by DOJ, accused of discriminating against disabled riders
