Uber settles US lawsuit against disabled riders, promises to waive fees

Uber settles US lawsuit against disabled riders, promises to waive fees: Uber Technologies Inc. will pay more than $2 million (about Rs. 16 crore) and waive waiting time fees for passengers with disabilities to settle US allegations that the ride-share company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. , the Justice Department said Monday.

As part of the two-year deal, Uber will waive wait time fees for certified disabled riders and pay $1,738,500 (about Rs. 13 crore) to more than 1,000 riders who complained about the charges and $500,000 (about Rs. 4 crore) to others. ) will pay. The department said the exercise had caused harm.

It added that Uber will also credit the accounts of more than 65,000 eligible riders.

The department sued the company in November after passengers complained they were charged fees for taking more than two minutes to get into their rideshare cars, the blind passengers said in an announcement Monday. It may take longer to reach a waiting car or pedestrians. Wheelchairs may take longer to enter.

"People with disabilities should not be made to feel like second-class citizens or penalized because of their disabilities," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark said in a statement, adding that the settlement "is a A strong message will go out that Uber and other ride-sharing companies are held accountable."

An Uber spokesperson welcomed the settlement and said it will "continue to help everyone move more easily in their communities" and "will continue to work to improve accessibility for all customers."

"It has long been our policy to refund waiting time fees to disabled riders when they alert us that they have been charged." It added that it had made changes before the lawsuit so that waiting time fees for disabled riders would be automatically waived. Uber is notified that they were charged.