Technology is touching every facet of our lives nowadays. From kids to senior citizens, everyone has access to the internet. And when something is being used by so many people worldwide, the question of accessibility becomes an important conversation.
Failing to match accessibility guidelines can brew serious trouble. So, this guide will be all about the web accessibility lawsuit. We will discuss what you need to know about it and more importantly what you should do if you have a website.
ADA Violations Lawsuits: What You Need to Know
In 2022, having a business website is not an optional thing. Customers are more informed nowadays than ever. And they do their research online and visit company websites. And in some cases, they will directly purchase a product, or service or get information from the company website.
To compete, you need to have a compelling website. That is a basic thing in today’s day and age. However, American law takes things a bit farther than that.
Laws like the ADA Act ensure that people with disabilities in seeing and hearing can use websites properly. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, your website needs to be easy to use and friendly.
Failing to comply with the law can result in website accessibility lawsuits. This can cause harm to your brand both in monetary terms and also its image. Moreover, having an accessible website is the right thing to do.
It allows you to reach more people. Accessible websites make for an inclusive world wide web. Most of the lawsuits are ADA Title III. It allows for a website to be accessible for people with all kinds of disabilities. You can read this article to know more.
ADA Lawsuits Are on The Site: And There is Something You Can Do About It
The thing you need to know is that these lawsuits are on the rise. And chances are they might not stop that soon. Just in 2018, there were nearly 5,000 ADA. The shocking thing? This was just in the first 6 months. Now that is not something websites and business owners would want to hear.
Florida, California, and New York have seen 85% of the federal filings in 2020. And over 8,000 lawsuits have been filed or removed just between 2017 to 2020. If you think about that, that is a staggering number.
An argument that can come up is whether or not these allegations or lawsuits are frivolous. That means are all these lawsuits legitimate or are people abusing the law here. While there is no denying that some lawsuits are indeed frivolous, some are not.
There will be some plaintiffs that are serial litigants. That is not always the case when it is legitimate. And then you need to be ready for it.
In some lawsuits, the plaintiffs did win. For example, in 2017, Juan Carlos Gill’s case went to the federal court.
He sued a supermarket chain because he could not use their website since he has a visual impairment. He won the case.
Companies now need to be extra diligent about their online presence. And inclusivity is pretty important. At the end of the day, it does not matter whether the cases were frivolous or who won.
Accessibility should be a consideration regardless. Making the web more accessible will help everyone all around and the companies will also be able to create a better brand image as well. No matter how you look at it, whether from the point of view of the law or a business perspective, ADA compliance websites are good.
Reducing Your Risk of Accessibility Lawsuits
While the number of lawsuits is rising, there are some actionable steps you can take to reduce your risk of an ADA-compliant website lawsuit. Since ADA website accessibility has guidelines, a good web consulting firm like ADAforweb can help.
Information and expert guidance are the keys to making your website user-friendly and accessible.
ADAforweb helps identify the right strategy for partners just like you. The process is designed to benefit both you and your clients. So, it is a win-win situation for all. Other than that, there are some basic steps you can take.
1. A Responsive Site is a Compliant Site
The first order of business is to have a responsive website. Responsive does not only mean that it is fast and smooth to use. It also refers to the client site device. Your website should be usable (and have the same information) on different devices like desktops and mobile.
2. Easy to Use Buttons and Forms
Any serious company website will have forms and buttons. Ensure these are designed in a user-friendly way and easy to use for the most part. The labels and all input elements should be visible. Any documents or text should be readable as well and it goes the same for forms.
3. Keyboard Navigation
One of the most overlooked features is keyboard navigation. Many websites do not incorporate proper keyboard navigation. Seniors who want to use websites and computers might prefer using a keyboard. This is where it becomes pretty necessary.
4. Color Contrast for Visually Impaired
Honestly, you could put this at the very top of the list. The first thing anyone will see when they visit your website is the design, colors, images, and layout. The color contrast needs to be designed with complementary colors. Contrast for high visibility is always recommended.
5. Conforming with WCAG 2.1 AA
You can reduce the risk of a lawsuit quite a lot by conforming to WCAG 2.1 AA standards. If you don’t know what it includes then you can click here to learn about everything you need to know.
Wrapping Up
With web accessibility lawsuits on the rise, it is now more important than ever to be compliant with ADA standards. Not only is it required by law, but it makes the web more accessible for people.
That in general is the right thing to do. You can get the critical information and expert counseling you need at ADAforweb.