AccessComply

Free self-check

Is your Shopify store at risk of an ADA lawsuit?

A 2-minute self-check — no signup, no data captured. Answer 8 yes/no questions and get an honest lawsuit-risk indicator (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH, or CRITICAL) plus your top next steps. This is an indicator, not legal advice.

1. Do you sell to customers in the United States — especially New York, Florida, California, or Illinois?
2. Is your store in a frequently-targeted industry — food & beverage / restaurant, or fashion & apparel?
3. Do any product images on your store lack descriptive alt text?
4. Can a shopper complete your entire checkout using only the keyboard (no mouse)?
5. Does your store have a published accessibility statement linked from the footer?
6. Are you relying on an accessibility overlay widget (accessiBe, UserWay, AudioEye, EqualWeb) as your fix?
7. Has your theme been customized beyond its defaults (custom code, apps that inject markup, page builders)?
8. Have you ever received a demand letter, complaint, or any legal contact about accessibility?

FAQ

Is this risk check a legal determination?

No. It is a self-assessment that maps your answers to a relative-risk indicator based on public demand-letter targeting patterns. It is not legal advice, not a compliance certification, and does not predict the outcome of any specific case. For an actual audit, run an automated scan against your live storefront; if you have received a demand letter, retain ADA Title III defense counsel.

Why does using an accessibility overlay raise my risk?

In January 2025 the FTC ordered accessiBe to pay $1,000,000 for deceptive overlay-compliance marketing claims. UsableNet found 22.6% of ADA-sued sites had an overlay installed; courts have allowed those lawsuits to proceed, sometimes citing the overlay as evidence of awareness without genuine remediation. An overlay does not modify your source code, so it does not produce compliance — relying on one raises rather than lowers your risk.

How common are these lawsuits really?

Over 5,100 federal website-accessibility cases were filed in 2025, and roughly 69% targeted ecommerce businesses including Shopify stores. New York, Florida, and Illinois account for about 75% of US filings. Settlements for small and mid-size merchants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000, with defense fees often adding $10,000 to $50,000 even when a case settles early.

Disclaimer: This is a self-assessment, not legal advice and not a compliance determination. The risk level is a relative indicator built from public demand-letter targeting patterns — it does not predict the outcome of any specific case and does not certify your store as compliant or non-compliant. For an actual audit, run an automated scan against your live storefront. If you have received a demand letter or lawsuit, consult qualified ADA Title III defense counsel.