Lawsuits and Legal Fines
Across North America and beyond, the number of lawsuits over inaccessible websites is growing fast. In the U.S., thousands of companies — from small businesses to large corporations — have faced lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In Canada, laws like the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) require many businesses to meet accessibility standards.

Legal actions often lead to:

• Fines — These can range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars per violation.
• Court settlements or judgments — Many companies settle for large sums rather than fight costly legal battles.
• Legal fees — Even if you win, defending a lawsuit can be expensive.

Example: Domino’s Pizza faced a lawsuit because its website and app were not usable by a blind customer with a screen reader.

Lost Customers and Revenue
When your site isn’t accessible, you shut out potential customers. Consider this:

• 1 in 4 U.S. adults lives with a disability (CDC, 2023).
• Americans with disabilities control hundreds of billions of dollars in disposable income.

If even a small percentage of users can’t complete a purchase, book a service, or contact you because of accessibility barriers, you’re leaving money on the table.

Damaged Brand Reputation
Word spreads fast. Customers notice when a company doesn’t care about inclusion. Social media, reviews, and news coverage can amplify the damage. Businesses seen as inaccessible may lose customer loyalty — while competitors who embrace accessibility gain it.