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8.3The ADA Litigation Explosion
Web accessibility lawsuits in the United States have grown dramatically:
- 2016: ~262 lawsuits filed
- 2019: ~2,256 lawsuits filed
- 2022: ~3,255 lawsuits filed
- 2024: ~4,000+ lawsuits filed
- 2026: Trend continues upward, with increasing focus on mobile apps
Most Common Targets
| Industry | % of ADA Web Lawsuits | Why Targeted |
|---|---|---|
| E-commerce / Retail | ~35% | Online shopping barriers |
| Food service / Restaurants | ~15% | Menu, ordering, delivery |
| Banking / Financial | ~12% | Account management barriers |
| Entertainment / Media | ~10% | Content accessibility |
| Healthcare | ~8% | Patient portal barriers |
| Travel / Hospitality | ~7% | Booking system barriers |
Most Common Violations Cited
- Missing alt text on images
- Missing form labels
- Insufficient color contrast
- Inaccessible navigation
- Videos without captions
- Keyboard-inaccessible functionality
- Missing page language declaration
- Empty links and buttons