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Time-sensitive: act within 72 hours

Just Received an
ADA Demand Letter?

Do not panic. Do not ignore it. Do not pay immediately. Here is exactly what to do right now.

Your Action Plan

What to Do Right Now

1

Do Not Ignore the Letter

This is the biggest mistake businesses make. An ignored demand letter almost always escalates to a federal lawsuit filing, which dramatically increases your legal costs. Most demand letters give you 30 to 60 days to respond. Use that time wisely.

2

Do Not Pay Immediately

The demand amount is a negotiating position, not a final number. Many ADA demand letters come from serial plaintiffs who file hundreds of similar claims. According to Seyfarth Shaw, 8,667 ADA Title III lawsuits were filed in 2025, and a significant portion are driven by repeat filers. Consult an attorney before making any payment.

3

Document Your Current Compliance State

Before changing anything on your website, run a compliance scan to document its current state. This creates a timestamped baseline. Then as you fix issues, you build a documented remediation timeline that demonstrates good-faith effort.

4

Start Fixing Accessibility Issues Immediately

Begin remediating the most critical violations: images without alt text, missing form labels, insufficient color contrast, empty links, missing page language, and keyboard navigation failures. Document every fix with dates. Courts recognize prompt remediation as evidence of good faith.

5

Get an ADA Defense Attorney

Consult an attorney who specifically handles ADA website accessibility defense. They can evaluate the claim, check if the plaintiff is a serial filer, negotiate the settlement amount, and advise on your specific situation. General business attorneys may lack relevant experience in this specialized area.

Critical Warnings

Do Not Make These Mistakes

Do not install an accessibility overlay

22.6% of websites sued for ADA violations had an overlay installed at the time (EcomBack H1 2025). The FTC fined accessiBe $1 million for misleading compliance claims. Overlays are not a defense.

Do not delete your website

Taking your site down does not resolve the legal claim and may be seen as evidence of awareness. Keep it up and start fixing issues instead.

Do not contact the plaintiff directly

Let your attorney handle all communication. Direct contact without legal counsel can produce statements that weaken your negotiating position.

Do not assume it will go away

Serial ADA plaintiffs are organized and persistent. If you do not respond, the next step is typically a federal complaint with significantly higher costs.

Build Your Defense

Get Your Compliance Shield

The Compliance Shield ($299) creates the documented evidence of good-faith compliance that strengthens your defense. Full WCAG report, formal compliance letter, and a documented remediation plan.

$299 one-time

vs. $5,000 to $75,000+ in settlement costs

  • ✓Full WCAG compliance report
  • ✓Formal compliance letter
  • ✓Documented remediation plan
  • ✓Evidence of good-faith effort
Start With a Free Scan

Settlement range data from Accessible.org.

FAQ

Common Questions

How long do I have to respond to an ADA demand letter?⌄
Most demand letters specify a response deadline of 30 to 60 days. If a federal lawsuit is filed instead, you typically have 21 days to respond to the complaint. Regardless of the stated deadline, responding promptly demonstrates good faith and gives you more negotiating leverage.
Should I contact the plaintiff's attorney directly?⌄
No. Have your own attorney handle all communication with the plaintiff's side. Direct communication without legal counsel can lead to statements that weaken your position. Find an attorney who specifically handles ADA web accessibility defense.
Can I just take my website down?⌄
Taking your website down does not resolve the legal claim and may be seen as evidence that you were aware of violations. Keep your site up, document its current state, and start fixing accessibility issues. The demand letter addresses past and present violations, not just the current state of the site.
Will an accessibility overlay widget help?⌄
No. According to EcomBack's H1 2025 report, 22.6% of websites sued for ADA violations had an overlay installed at the time they were sued. The FTC fined accessiBe $1 million in January 2025 for deceptive compliance claims. Fix your actual website code instead.
How much will this cost me?⌄
ADA website lawsuits typically settle in the $5,000 to $75,000 range according to Accessible.org, plus your attorney fees ($3,000 to $25,000+). Proactive compliance documentation like the Compliance Shield ($299) is significantly cheaper than reactive legal defense and creates evidence that can reduce your settlement amount.
Is this a serial plaintiff?⌄
Many ADA demand letters come from a relatively small number of repeat plaintiffs and law firms who file hundreds of similar claims. Your attorney can research whether the plaintiff has filed other similar cases, which is relevant to defense strategy. Serial plaintiff status does not invalidate the claim, but it affects negotiation dynamics.

Time is not on your side.
Act now.

Document your compliance state today. Every day of documented remediation effort strengthens your position.

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