Non-compliance to ADA law can be a costly endeavor for a business looking to improve their digital presence. Since 2017, there has been a 177% increase in website accessibility lawsuits in Federal Court, costing businesses up to millions of dollars in fines and settlements. Websites that have not ensured their compliance to ADA law run a high risk of being sued, making it ever more important to hold ADA compliance in high regard as a website owner or operator.

If a business is found guilty of ADA non-compliance in federal court, fines may be detrimental. Each infraction on a site may be charged up to a $4000 fine, which can add up quickly as business websites are assessed for non-compliance. Larger businesses have faced settlements spanning in the hundreds of thousands. The cost of ADA non-compliance is hefty, and greatly outweighs the cost of making a business (and website) compliant.

States such as Florida and New York continue to have a shocking number of lawsuits filed in the past year for ADA non-compliance. In the Unites States, 142 local governments alone have filed lawsuits since 2011, and that number is only increasing. Organizations such as the National Federation for The Blind have filed multiple lawsuits regarding ADA compliance in the past few years, with settlement costs reaching the hundreds of thousands. The number of lawsuits filed for ADA non-compliance on websites has increased from 814 in 2017 to a whopping 2258 by 2018.

Many notable businesses have been sued in recent years for being ADA non-compliant. Hulu, a prominent streaming service, faced a lawsuit for ADA non-compliance on both their website and mobile app. Hulu reached a settlement with the American Institute for the Blind, forcing the company to make their webpages accessible to blind users. Another large enterprise, Hooters, faced a lawsuit for non-compliance to ADA law on their website and agreed to reformat to meet ADA law standards as a result of the suit. A number of other businesses with online platforms have been sued, resulting in thousands of dollars in fines and settlements. Domino’s is another business that has faced an enormous lawsuit for non-compliance on their website, resulting in repercussions with the Supreme Court.

Small businesses are also targeted for ADA non-compliance. Negligence to proper formatting of a small business website could result in the same lawsuits as a large business. Small businesses may be forced to shut down operations entirely due to fines and settlements. This makes it imperative for any business with a website (small or large) to be evaluated for possible ADA non-compliance. Small businesses that are often targeted include but are not limited to:

• Legal Services
• Restaurants
• Fitness Centers
• CPA’s (Certified Public Accountants)
• E-commerce
• Manufacturers

Getting Ahead of the Lawsuits

Making a business website ADA compliant costs significantly less than a lawsuit for non-compliance, which makes it more important than ever for businesses to seek out ADA compliant measures. When a lawsuit could cost a business over $100,000, making the updates to meet ADA standards is a bargain. Updating a business website is a decision for the prosperity of the company.

Social Spice Media offers services to both improve your websites ranking on Google and ensure that every aspect of your website is ADA compliant. Making your website ADA compliant through our services is an investment that could save you a large amount time, money, and could even save your entire business as a whole.

Packages starting at $1,750 include a personalized evaluation of accessibility issues and consultation for the best plan for your business. Making your website ADA compliant through the services of Social Spice Media is an investment for the future. We will work with you to ensure that your website is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all readers and visitors. The advancement of your business through the improvement of your website begins with ensuring that your website is ADA compliant.

Get in touch with Social Spice Media to receive the help you need for managing your website and domain renewal. Do you know someone who could benefit from our services? Refer them to us today! Our team is eager to connect with businesses in any industry. We serve the local needs of Ventura County and Santa Barbara as well as anywhere in the United States.