A customer may file a lawsuit claiming that your company’s website is not accessible to people with disabilities. In response, you might ask your web team to fix the problem.
However, an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuit involves more than website errors. It raises legal questions about accessibility, discrimination and your company’s duties under federal law.
Why do website problems create legal risks?
Under Title III of the ADA, businesses that serve the public must provide people with disabilities equal access to their goods and services. This duty can extend to websites and online services.
For example, a customer with a visual disability might struggle to complete an online purchase because the website does not work with screen-reading software.
Other common problems include:
- Images without text descriptions
- Videos without captions
- Forms that people cannot complete using a keyboard
- Poor color contrast that makes text difficult to read
These issues can stop customers from using key services. Because of this, businesses might get sued even if they never meant to leave anyone out.
Why do technical fixes fall short?
Web developers can spot accessibility problems and update website features. But they cannot say for sure if those changes meet the company’s legal requirements.
The Department of Justice gives advice on website accessibility. It says businesses must offer equal access, but it does not set one detailed technical standard for all private business websites.
Many companies use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to guide their work. Still, meeting a technical checklist does not always settle an ADA claim.
A lawsuit may also involve questions about:
- Whether federal disability laws cover the business
- Whether the website prevents equal access
- What changes the business must make
- How the business should respond to legal claims
Therefore, fixing the website and responding to the lawsuit require different skills.
Why does legal guidance matter?
Businesses benefit when legal and technical teams work together. Developers can address access barriers while attorneys review legal duties and help manage the lawsuit.
An attorney can also check settlement terms and help the business plan for future website updates. This way, the business can lower the risk of more disputes and make online services easier for everyone.