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How Common Are ADA Website Lawsuits — and Who Is at Risk?
Digital accessibility lawsuits have continued to increase year after year. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 2,000 ADA website lawsuits were filed in the United States, showing a sharp rise over the previous year.
Retail and e-commerce businesses are the most targeted, accounting for around two-thirds of these lawsuits. Websites on platforms like Shopify, WordPress, Magento, and custom-built systems all appear in legal actions, demonstrating that the issue applies broadly across the digital landscape.
What Is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
The ADA is a U.S. civil rights law passed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination based on disability. Although originally focused on physical spaces, many courts and regulatory decisions interpret the ADA as applying to public-facing websites and online services, especially those connected to customer-facing businesses.
ADA Title III and Website Accessibility
Title III of the ADA requires places of public accommodation to ensure people with disabilities can access their goods and services. Courts increasingly view websites as falling under this requirement.
While the ADA does not provide its own technical web standard, the WCAG guidelines are widely referenced in litigation as the benchmark for determining accessibility. Meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA is considered the most common industry expectation.
What Does ADA Website Compliance Mean?
Although the ADA does not define specific digital requirements, WCAG serves as the most accepted framework for establishing accessibility. Many lawsuits cite WCAG failures such as:
- Missing alt text for images
- Low color contrast
- Forms or buttons without proper labels
- Inability to navigate with a keyboard
- Videos without captions
Aligning with WCAG reduces these common barriers and strengthens legal positioning.
Why Some Websites Face Higher Legal Risk
Several factors contribute to increased exposure:
- Plaintiffs often document accessibility issues using automated and manual testing.
- E-commerce sites face more lawsuits because of complex interactions like checkout flows, filtering, payment systems, and pop-ups.
- Businesses that rely only on accessibility widgets or overlays often discover these tools do not resolve underlying barriers.
Potential Legal Consequences
If a business is sued over an inaccessible website, the results may include:
- Requirements to remediate accessibility barriers
- Financial settlements
- Reputational impact
- Ongoing compliance obligations
Ignoring the issue increases the likelihood of litigation. Many businesses receive demand letters before a lawsuit is filed.
How to Reduce Risk of ADA Website Lawsuits
A proactive approach helps minimize exposure:
- Audit your website
Conduct both automated and manual accessibility evaluations, including testing with assistive technologies. - Fix documented issues
Start with core usability barriers such as navigation, forms, input fields, headings, images, and interactive elements. - Use WCAG 2.1 Level AA as your internal standard
This ensures new content and updates meet accessibility requirements. - Maintain ongoing documentation
Keep records of audits, fixes, and future remediation plans. - Provide user support channels
Offer a clear way for users to report accessibility issues. - Build internal accessibility knowledge
Train developers, designers, and content teams so compliance is maintained long term.
Trends Seen in 2025
- Certain states have become hotspots for litigation, with large rises in accessibility lawsuits.
- Websites across many platforms, including hosted and custom solutions, are being targeted.
- A significant number of sued websites used accessibility widgets, indicating that overlay tools alone are not enough.
- A small number of law firms and plaintiffs are responsible for a large share of cases, filing claims in high volumes.
Why This Matters for Businesses
- Legal risk is real, and lawsuits are being filed against businesses of all sizes, not only large corporations.
- Website accessibility is both a legal and a user experience issue.
- Taking a structured, WCAG-based approach reduces legal exposure and improves usability for everyone.
Final Thoughts
ADA website lawsuits continue to grow, and compliance is now a core business responsibility. By prioritizing accessibility, performing regular audits, and building WCAG-aligned workflows, organizations can significantly reduce risk while improving online experiences for all users. QSeed Solutions supports businesses in navigating this landscape and building accessible, future-focused digital environments.