How ADA Website Compliance Consultants Help You Avoid Costly Lawsuits

Every day, websites handle a wide range of tasks, from customer orders to marketing and support. However, if your website is not accessible to people with disabilities, you are putting yourself at legal risk. Across the U.S., ADA-related web accessibility lawsuits are rising, with over 8,800 Title III complaints filed in 2024 in federal and state courts.

A proactive strategy is to hire an ADA website compliance consultant. The specialist who helps to audit, improve, and defend your site’s accessibility.

In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through what ADA web compliance means and why non-compliance is dangerous. We’ll take a closer look at how the ADA website audit works and how to pick the right expert partner.

What You Should Know About ADA Web Compliance?

Let’s start with the basics. The main goal of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)  is to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in “public accommodations.” Over time, courts and regulators have extended this obligation to digital spaces. So, now many websites are considered part of a “public accommodation.”

Under Title III of the ADA, organizations that offer goods or services to the public must provide equal access. While the law itself does not specify technical standards, the de facto standard is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Additionally, Section 508 web compliance is often applied to U.S. federal and state-sector websites and their contractors. Different states or organizations may have additional regulations.

Moreover, in recent years, ADA-related website lawsuits have surged:

• As of mid-2025, more than 2,019 digital accessibility lawsuits had been filed, bringing the total for the year to nearly 4,975. 
• In 2024, 961 lawsuits were filed against companies that had already been sued.
• In federal court, 2,452 website accessibility lawsuits were filed in 2024, accounting for 28% of all Title III lawsuits.

Since courts view noncompliance with WCAG as evidence of inaccessibility, organizations must strategically implement and document accessibility practices.

Legal and Financial Risks of a Non-Compliant Website

What began as a few lawsuits against well-known retailers has now spread to nearly every industry. Nobody is safe: small local restaurants, healthcare, e-commerce or SaaS platforms. Lawyers often target small and mid-sized businesses that usually lack in-house accessibility teams and clear compliance processes.

The financial impact can be significant. Even a quiet settlement may cost between $20,000 and $50,000. And you’ll also have to pay legal fees and the expenses of resolving accessibility issues afterward. Larger cases can easily exceed six figures. For example, in 2025, Fashion Nova agreed to a $5.15 million class-action settlement over claims its website was inaccessible to blind users relying on screen-readers.

Accessibility lawsuits are public, and one complaint can harm your reputation far beyond the courtroom. When people link your brand with discrimination, it can take years to restore that trust. Especially in a market that increasingly prioritizes inclusion and social responsibility.

There’s also the lost opportunity. Many government agencies, universities, and large clients require ADA 508 website compliance from their vendors. If your website doesn’t meet these standards, you risk losing contracts before you even have a chance to compete.

In short, ADA non-compliance is a real threat to your finances, reputation, and growth. Investing in accessibility now is the best way to protect your brand and steer clear of costly, avoidable lawsuits.

Common Accessibility Failures That Attract Lawsuits

WCAG is built around four key principles: receptiveness, control, understandability and reliability. 

Following these guidelines should be enough to stay compliant. However, it is not that simple. Often, without the help of an ADA web compliance expert or a team, you may make some common mistakes. Consultants frequently see the same technical issues and plaintiffs usually sue over them:  

Missing Alt Text for Images

Alt text (alternative text) is a short description attached to images so that screen readers can understand what an image shows to visually impaired users. When images lack alt text or have vague or empty descriptions, many users miss the meaning or function of that image, such as a button, a chart, or a photo. This makes navigation and understanding impossible. 

Low Color Contrast Between Text and Background

When text doesn’t stand out clearly from its background, it becomes hard or impossible to read for users with low vision, color blindness, or sensitivity to contrast. A design that looks nice to a fully sighted person might be unreadable for someone with visual impairment.

Unlabeled Form Fields or Buttons

When you fill out an online form, like signing up for a newsletter or booking an appointment, each field should explain what it’s for. A label might seem like a small detail, but it’s important. Screen readers depend on those labels to announce “Name,” “Email,” “Submit,” and so on. If those labels are missing or unclear, users who are blind or have cognitive disabilities cannot complete the form at all.

Keyboard Traps That Block Users Who Don’t Use a Mouse

Some websites have interface elements that trap keyboard users. Once you tab into a dropdown, menu, or modal window, you can’t tab back out or move to other parts of the page. For users who rely entirely on keyboard navigation, this creates a significant barrier: they get stuck or blocked from taking further action. 

Pop-Ups and Overlays That Disrupt Navigation

When a pop-up or overlay appears on the screen, such as a cookie banner or newsletter signup, it needs to be coded so that screen readers and keyboard users can navigate out of it and back to the underlying content. If it traps focus, blocks content behind it, or isn’t announced to assistive technologies, it can create a barrier. 

Videos Without Captions or Transcripts

When a video plays without captions or a transcript, users who are deaf or hard of hearing cannot access the spoken content. This can exclude them from important information, whether it’s instructions, lectures, or promotional material. 

Inconsistent Focus Order

Focus order refers to the sequence in which elements receive keyboard focus, such as by pressing Tab. If that sequence jumps around in illogical ways or skips critical items, a keyboard user’s journey through the page can become confusing or broken. 

Third-Party Widgets That Override Accessibility Code

Many websites add third-party tools, like chat widgets or accessibility plug-ins, to improve functionality. However, if those tools override or conflict with your main accessibility coding, they can introduce new barriers by interfering with screen readers or masking underlying issues.

How ADA Website Compliance Consultants Help Your Business?

Hiring an ADA website compliance consultant helps to make your website usable for everyone and protect it from accessibility risks and lawsuits in the future. These specialists bring together technical, legal, and usability skills. Their main goal is to make sure your site meets ADA, WCAG and section 508 compliance website standards.

Accessibility Audit and Assessment

An accessibility audit examines your website’s structure, design, and content to find areas where it does not meet accessibility standards and requirements. Experts use both automated scanning tools and manual testing, sometimes involving users of assistive technology. Experts provide a detailed audit report that highlights specific problems. It usually includes screenshots and offers recommendations on how to solve the issue.

Remediation and Implementation Guidance

Once accessibility issues are found, experts guide your developers or content managers through the process of fixing code, design, and content. Achieving ADA compliance often requires fundamental changes to your website’s structure. Quick fixes usually do not resolve deeper accessibility issues.

Experts translate WCAG requirements into actionable tasks for your team. They also make sure changes do not disrupt the site’s functionality or design.

Validation, Re-Testing, and Quality Assurance

After fixes are implemented, consultants conduct another round of testing, called validation or re-audit. It is needed to confirm that the issues were resolved properly. Accessibility can unintentionally break. Even minor design changes or CMS updates can create new errors. Experts test with screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and real accessibility tools to ensure compliance.

User Testing with People with Disabilities

User testing involves real people who use assistive technologies to navigate your site. No amount of automated testing can replace real user experience. Actual users can identify usability problems that even skilled developers might overlook.

Monitoring, Maintenance, and Continuous Compliance

Accessibility requires ongoing attention. New content, plugins, or redesigns can quickly create new issues. Experts set up monitoring systems to automatically scan your site and produce monthly reports. It will alert you if something compromises accessibility.

Legal Support and Documentation

An ADA website consultant often collaborates with legal teams to provide accessibility documentation and compliance reports. If you ever face a lawsuit or receive a demand letter, having documented accessibility audits and remediation reports shows your effort to comply with the law.

ADA compliance consultants serve as your accessibility partners. They help you avoid lawsuits and assist in creating a more inclusive and trustworthy online presence for everyone.

How Can You Mitigate the Risk of an ADA Website Compliance Lawsuit?

The secret lies in collaborating with an accessibility expert who knows how to spot risks before they lead to lawsuits. Every action a consultant takes directly reduces your exposure and strengthens your defense if legal issues come up.

Here’s how each step helps protect your business:

• A thorough audit uncovers vulnerabilities before a plaintiff or regulator does. It’s your first line of defense and shows your commitment to compliance.
• Fixing accessibility issues brings your site up to standard and improves usability for all visitors. It will lower the chances of future complaints.
• Ongoing technical testing makes certain that fixes are effective and remain so. Documented re-testing shows good faith and active compliance, a major advantage in any legal situation.
• Testing by real users with disabilities confirms that your site is genuinely accessible. This firsthand validation can strengthen your case if disputes arise.
• Continuous monitoring helps to detect problems early, before they escalate into user complaints.
• Keeping organized records of audits, fixes, and tests often determines whether a complaint is quickly dismissed or turns into an expensive settlement.

How to Choose a Proper Partner for a Reliable ADA Website Compliance Audit?

When you evaluate ADA compliance companies, there are several key criteria you should consider. Here’s what matters most:

• Experience and background  

Look for proven experience, ideally several years in digital accessibility. Ask about past clients, industries, and website types they’ve worked on. Look for testimonials and case studies. A consultant familiar with your niche will understand your sector’s unique accessibility needs.

• Technical expertise  

They should have deep knowledge of WCAG, web accessibility 508 compliance, and how assistive technologies interact with websites. A technically strong consultant can spot both code-level barriers and design flaws early.

• Methodology  

Good consultants combine manual audits, user testing, and ongoing monitoring to make sure issues are found and fixed properly. Ask whether they include validation or re-testing after remediation.

• Transparency and communication  

Clarity is as important as expertise. Choose someone who provides easy-to-read reports, prioritizes issues by severity, and communicates in clear, actionable terms that both developers and managers can understand.

• Legal awareness  

Your consultant doesn’t need to be a lawyer, but they should know which accessibility issues most often lead to lawsuits. Familiarity with the main DOJ web accessibility guidance is a good sign.

• Pricing and engagement model  

Understand how they charge: fixed fee, hourly rate, or retainer. Clarity here helps you plan your budget and compare providers fairly.

• Post-audit support

Accessibility isn’t a one-time task. Choose a consultant who offers ongoing remediation support or monitoring to help you stay compliant as your website evolves.

• Platform compatibility

Make sure the consultant is comfortable working with your CMS or tech stack, whether that’s WordPress, Shopify, custom code, or enterprise software. The right fit saves time and reduces rework.

Mobilunity: Your Trusted ADA Compliance Partner

Are you looking to make your website fully ADA-compliant? Mobilunity has experienced accessibility consultants who are ready to support businesses around the world.

We offer flexible collaboration models to meet your needs:

• Dedicated ADA teams for large or long-term projects, providing full audits, actionable recommendations, and ongoing compliance support.
• Part-time consultants for smaller or short-term initiatives, offering flexibility and efficient expertise.

Mobilunity can also help you find ADA specialists globally. Whether you need consulting in San Diego, Zurich, or elsewhere, we’ve got you covered. With over 15 years of experience and clients in over 20 countries, we deliver both technical audits and practical strategies for inclusive digital experiences.

Working with Mobilunity gives you access to vetted ADA experts and ongoing support. All of this is aimed at making your website accessible and compliant.

Your digital products should be usable by everyone.

Wrapping It Up

Website accessibility is a legal and ethical necessity. Working with experienced ADA website consultants helps you comply with regulations and create a genuinely inclusive digital presence. They provide the skills needed to audit and resolve existing and potential accessibility issues.

It is better to invest in improvements than to settle in court. But choose your partner wisely: staying compliant with laws requires a long-term commitment and deep expertise in many areas.

Make your website accessible and ADA-compliant with Mobilunity expert ADA website compliance consultants. 

Written by:

Anastasia Stefanuk

Market Researcher

Disclaimer: All salaries and prices mentioned within the article are approximate numbers based on the research done by our in-house Marketing Research Team. Please use these numbers as a reference for comparison only. Feel free to use the contact form to inquire on the specific cost of the talent according to your vacancy requirements and chosen model of engagement.