Can I Sue a Company for having an Inaccessible Website?

Personal Injury Lawyer

There are some accessibility standards that certain businesses and organizations are legally required to comply with in order to accommodate those with disabilities. If someone is blind, they cannot use a website that isn’t set up with certain accommodations, and for some organizations there is vital information that all people need to be able to access and use to complete certain tasks, such as government websites, or that should be available to everyone as a matter of equality, like universities. If you, or a disabled loved one, have not been able to access a website that is required to provide proper accommodations, it may be time to bring a lawsuit with the legal assistance of an experienced disability lawyer in Washington, DC, like from Eric Siegel Law.

Accessibility Requirements

Websites should be following the WCAG 2.0 AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 level AA) standards to ensure their site is user friendly for those with disabilities. This will include keyboard friendliness, using image alt tags, and more. Without these considerations, it could be nearly impossible for anyone using a screen reader to access or fully use the website. It is, in some ways, a form of discrimination against those with disabilities to have a website that it is not usable for everyone. 

Filing a Lawsuit

The process for filing a lawsuit can vary depending on your state, county, or city and you will need to check what the specific requirements and process are in your area. Although not required, it is typically recommended to speak with an experienced lawyer before filing your lawsuit to ensure that you have a strong and valid case and to get legal advice. Filing a lawsuit is not always the most complicated part of the suit, there is also legal strategy to consider, litigation if your case does go to court, writing legal letters, settlement negotiations, and more.

Work with a Lawyer

Any lawsuit can be time-consuming and stressful, and it can be beneficial to have the legal experience and guidance of web accessibility lawyer. Although it typically is not required that you have a lawyer to file a lawsuit, it is a good idea to have a professional who knows the legal process and how to create a strong legal case. Contact a law firm today to schedule an initial consultation to discuss your legal needs and next steps.