uber Faces DOJ Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Against Riders with Disabilities
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Uber on Thursday, September 11, 2025, alleging the ride-hailing company discriminated against individuals with disabilities. The complaint, filed in a federal court in San Francisco, claims Uber denies equal access to its services.
According to the DOJ, Uber and its drivers “routinely refuse to serve individuals with disabilities, including individuals who travel with service animals or who use stowable wheelchairs.” The lawsuit further alleges the company imposes unfair fees, such as cleaning fees related to service animals and cancellation fees on riders unlawfully denied service. The DOJ also claims drivers have been reported to “insult and demean people with disabilities or ask them inappropriate questions.”
The DOJ is seeking a jury trial and requests injunctive relief, monetary damages, and a civil fine for alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26,1990.
Uber responded with a statement asserting a “clear zero-tolerance policy for confirmed service denials” and stating they “fundamentally disagree with the DOJ’s allegation.” The company highlighted its Community Guidelines, which prohibit discrimination, and a recently implemented feature designed to improve the experience for riders with service animals, including an educational video for drivers explaining the policy.
The DOJ contends that Uber failed to ”reasonably modify” its policies and practices to accommodate people with disabilities. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 61 million U.S. adults,or 1 in 4,report having a disability.
