A multi-million settlement by Uber for overcharging persons with disabilities

Uber has settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit with the U.S. Justice Department for discriminating against persons with disabilities through their wait time fee policy. Over 65,000 affected riders will receive compensation, emphasizing the importance of ensuring equality and accessibility in transportation services.

In 2016 Uber implemented a wait time fees for all customers who kept the driver waiting for more than two minutes after arrival at the pickup location, however, in November 2021, the U.S. Justice Department sued Uber alleging that they violated the title III of the  Americans with Disabilities Act with its wait time policy, that did not factor in passengers who needed extra time due to a disability. In a multi-million settlement with the Department of Justice, Uber has agreed to offer several million dollars in compensation to more than 65,000 riders who were charged discriminatory fees due to disability.

Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, ‘People with disabilities should not be made to feel like second-class citizens or punished because of their disability, which is exactly what Uber’s wait time fee policy did, this agreement sends a strong message that Uber and other ridesharing companies will be held accountable if their services discriminate against people with disabilities. The Civil Rights Division remains committed to enforcing the ADA and ensuring that people with disabilities can travel free from barriers and indignities.’