The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Lyft, accusing the company of discriminating against passengers with disabilities who seek rides on its platform.

The federal lawsuit, filed Monday, says Lyft “is aware of, but fails to prevent and remedy” several discriminatory practices against riders who need accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That includes denying rides to people who have service animals or use stowable wheelchairs and refusing to let passengers with mobility issues sit in the front seat, the suit alleges.

“Individuals with disabilities should be able to rely on rideshare services free of discrimination,” said Jesus A. Osete, acting assistant attorney general, in a statement. “We intend to uphold the ADA’s promise that people with disabilities are entitled to equal access in every part of public life, including essential transportation services.”

The lawsuit is the latest from the federal government that targets ride-hailing companies for the treatment of would-be riders with disabilities. The administration filed a similar lawsuit against Uber last year, which is ongoing. Uber settled a separate suit in 2022, and Lyft settled a different one in 2020. The companies stress that their policies and in-app tools require that drivers provide ADA accommodations and remind them of the consequences of refusing to do so.

The new lawsuit against Lyft named several examples of people across the country who hailed a ride on the platform but had one — or, in some cases, several — drivers refuse to take them to their destination, including as recently as last month.

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