Is Your Website a Lawsuit Target?

“We installed an accessibility overlay.”

Overlays add a widget on top of your site. They do not fix the underlying HTML. Courts have ruled overlays insufficient (Robles v. Domino's, 2019). Plaintiff attorneys specifically target sites with overlays.

“We ran Lighthouse and scored fine.”

Lighthouse checks a fraction of WCAG criteria. It does not produce legal documentation, monitor for regressions, or generate a PDF for opposing counsel. A Lighthouse score has never been accepted as evidence of compliance in court.

“We're too small to get sued.”

Small businesses are the primary target. Serial ADA plaintiffs prefer small sites because owners settle quickly. There is no minimum size or traffic threshold for ADA Title III.

“We'll deal with it when we get a letter.”

By then you negotiate from a defensive position. Average settlement: $5K to $75K, plus legal fees, plus emergency remediation. Documenting good-faith compliance before a demand letter is the strongest defense.