Recently in court, Lyft claimed that it was a technology company, not a transportation company. The move was taken in order to avoid being subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This arose from a class-action lawsuit that was filed in 2017 against Lyft by a woman who claims that the company’s failure to serve people with disabilities is illegal. The lawsuit was filed in federal court, and comes after a settlement with New York City in which Uber, Lyft, and Via agreed to service at least 80 percent of requests for wheelchair-accessible vehicles in under 10 minutes and 90 percent in under 15 minutes by mid-2021.
Lyft is claiming in court that it is in the business of providing an app, not transportation. However, it’s facing other lawsuits as well, one of which is in California, that claim that the company is discriminating against people with disabilities.
Lyft and Uber have been hit with lawsuits on multiple fronts in recent years. Both companies have been sued many times by passengers who claim they have been physically or sexually assaulted. They have also been sued by passengers who have been seriously injured in accidents. The companies have also been under attack by drivers who claim they are employees instead of independent contractors. Finally, many local governments have been taking actions against the companies on a variety of issues.
As ride share companies continue to grow, laws surrounding their operations will continue to expand. If you have been harmed as a result of riding in an Uber or a Lyft vehicle, you should speak with an attorney. If you’re in Los Angeles, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney, at 310-385-0567. I will provide you with a free consultation on your case. Call today to learn more.