This video breaks down how ADA website lawsuits work, who they target, and what organizations should know about reducing their legal risk.
ADA Title III requires businesses open to the public to provide equal access, and courts have increasingly applied this to websites. When a person with a disability cannot use a website, that business may face legal action. Most of these cases target businesses with a consumer-facing web presence, particularly in retail, hospitality, and food service.
The video explains that plaintiffs in these cases typically allege they encountered accessibility issues that prevented them from completing a task on the site. Common allegations involve screen reader incompatibility, inaccessible forms, or missing alternative text on images. Many cases settle before trial because the cost of defense often exceeds the cost of remediation.
Organizations can reduce their exposure by conducting an accessibility audit, remediating identified issues to meet WCAG 2.1 AA conformance, and publishing an accessibility statement. Ongoing monitoring through scheduled scans (which flag approximately 25% of issues) combined with periodic expert evaluation provides continued risk reduction.