Accessibility lawsuits hit a record high in 2025 and 2026 is on track to break it again. The good news: plaintiff firms are looking for easy wins. A documented audit and remediation plan moves you off their list.
The 4-step lawsuit-protection playbook
These four documents, kept current, defuse the vast majority of demand letters before they become litigation.
- 1. Recent third-party WCAG 2.1 AA audit (<12 months)
- 2. Public accessibility statement + feedback channel
- 3. Dated remediation log proving good-faith progress
- 4. Compliance certificate accepted by your insurer
Web accessibility compliance certificate for insurance
Cyber and general liability insurers increasingly ask for proof of accessibility posture. AxessGuard's certificate is accepted by most major carriers.
What NOT to do
Overlay tools (AccessiBe, UserWay) have been explicitly rejected as a defense in multiple US court rulings. Don't rely on them as your only protection.
- Don't install only a JS widget and call it done
- Don't ignore demand letters — that escalates damages
- Don't claim 'WCAG compliance' without an audit to back it