Managing a lifelong or temporary disability can be challenging, especially when it comes to transportation. Disability laws protect people with disabilities from losing access to public and private transportation services. Finding out what your legal options are when you are denied access to transportation accommodations may help you gain the access you need to transportation services. Feel free to talk to a Philadelphia denied benefits appeal lawyer to learn more.

How Disability Rights Work for Transportation

Disability rights were established for transportation by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Not only do transportation disability requirements apply to public transportation but also to private transportation services. These laws were designed to ensure equal access to transportation regardless of struggles caused by a short-term or long-term disability.

Public transportation services include city buses, subways, light rail systems, and similar types of transportation. You might be wondering which transportation services are considered private. Common examples of private transportation services include shuttles for hotels or airports, taxis, and Over the Road Buses. For schools, these include school buses and parking lot disability accommodations.

These transportation services are expected to provide some form of accommodations for different types of disabilities. This is why there are often railings, boarding ramps, and lifts on buses and other forms of transportation. Transportation services are also expected to:

• Announce stops for people with visual impairments
• Follow size requirements for text and diagrams
• Have illuminated surfaces on steps, lifts, and ramps
• Extra room for wheelchairs and other assistive devices
• Elevators when there are multiple floors or levels to access transportation 

Your Options if You Are Denied Access to Transportation

If you attempted to use a transportation service but were either denied access or denied accommodations, then you may have legal options. You might be able to take steps to gain access to the transportation you need or file a lawsuit against the transportation provider. The standards for accessible vehicles are laid out in laws regarding disability rights:

• Ability to request accommodations for a disability
• Accessibility to transportation vehicles and facilities
• Option to file complaints when accommodations are denied

You may not have to settle for being denied accommodations for public and private transportation services. Consider contacting a Philadelphia disability lawyer to figure out what legal options you have. An experienced disability lawyer can help you take steps to increase your access to the transportation services you need.

This may involve collecting evidence and information about the incident of being denied disability accommodations. Be prepared to work with a lawyer on documenting what happened and which disability rights you were denied. A lawyer may provide various options like filing an initial complaint, filing a lawsuit, or negotiating better disability accommodations.

Contact Edelstein & Nelson for Legal Aid

You may not have to settle for denied access to transportation due to a disability. Feel free to ask a Philadelphia disability attorney about your legal options if you were denied access to transportation due to a disability. Feel free to call Edelstein & Nelson today at (800) 300-0909 for a consultation about your situation. Our team of lawyers is ready to help you take legal action.