Uber Class Action Alleges Lack of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

A recent class action lawsuit claims that Uber violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to make its services accessible to disabled individuals.

The ride-hailing service has swept the nation and changed the way Americans consider travel. Instead of hailing a taxi, more and more consumers are simply using the Uber app to get a ride.

Despite the cultural shift to ride-hailing, Uber may not be allowing disabled individuals access to their services.

The Uber class action lawsuit claims that the company’s practices, especially those in the Pittsburgh area, fail to provide equal access to individuals in wheelchairs.

“Because the geographic area serviced by accessible public transportation in Pittsburgh is contracting, at the same time that Uber and similar ride sharing services are capturing market share from traditional taxi companies, Uber’s discriminatory practices have a profound negative impact upon individuals with mobility disabilities in Pittsburgh,” the Uber class action lawsuit claims.

The plaintiffs also state that Uber is limiting accessible travel options across all of Pittsburgh due to its strong presence in the city. This allegedly means that it is becoming increasingly difficult for disabled individuals to find a ride.

“The convergence of Uber’s discriminatory practices with its increasing market share for on-demand transportation services is making an already bad situation worse,” the plaintiffs say.

The Uber class action lawsuit also claims that it would not be a huge disruption to the company’s business model if they were to make changes that would help mobility disabled individuals. Despite this, the company allegedly chose not to make changes to their business model after the plaintiffs contacted them about accessibility.

Uber reportedly admits that they are not doing anything to incentivize their drivers to provide accessible services and wheelchair accessible vehicles, saying: “[Uber] doesn’t treat Drivers who have or want WAVs [wheelchair-accessible vehicles] any differently than it treats other Drivers [sic].”

Plaintiffs claim that the company could easily incentivize drivers to provide accessible services but “intentionally” avoids complying with anti-discrimination laws.

The Uber class action claims that the lack of wheelchair accessibility violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a federal law that protects disabled individuals and grants them the right to equal access. Uber has reportedly been sued by other parties in cities around the country for allegedly violating the ADA in similar ways.

The plaintiffs seek to represent a Class of mobility disabled individuals who need wheelchair accessible vehicles to get around and who have been unable to use Uber’s services in Allegheny County due to the lack of accessible vehicles.

The Uber ADA class action lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to insure that disabled individuals are able to have access to Uber services, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

Plaintiffs and the proposed Class are represented by R. Bruce Carlson, Kelly K. Iverson, Kevin W. Tucker, and Bryan A. Fox of Carlson Lynch LLP; and Stuart Seaborn, Michelle Iorio, and Melissa Riess of Disability Rights Advocates.

The Uber ADA Class Action Lawsuit is O’Hanlon, et al. v. Uber Technologies Inc., et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-00675-DSC, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

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