--- title: "WSJ Exposes the High Costs of Inaccessible Websites: Key Insights" description: Discover the costs of inaccessible websites from the WSJ article, highlighting the risks, legal expenses, and measures to safeguard your business. image: https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/WSJ%20Blog.png --- - [skip to menu](https://blog.usablenet.com/wsj-exposes-the-high-costs-of-inaccessible-websites-key-insights#nav) - [skip to content](https://blog.usablenet.com/wsj-exposes-the-high-costs-of-inaccessible-websites-key-insights#main-content) - [skip to footer](https://blog.usablenet.com/wsj-exposes-the-high-costs-of-inaccessible-websites-key-insights#footer) Test the accessibility of your website for free! Try UsableNet AQA. 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[Get Help with EN 301 549 Compliance](https://info.usablenet.com/eaa-en-301-549-compliance?__hstc=181257784.2243d86205d8f41e204908d6f6578263.1725908600455.1736198093211.1736205902814.174&__hssc=181257784.1.1736205902814&__hsfp=3011104808) - Who We Serve ## Industry [E-commerce and Consumer Goods](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-e-commerce-consumer-goods) [Food Service and Hospitality](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-food-service-hospitality) [Banking and Financial Services](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-financial-services) [Healthcare](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-healthcare) [Technology and Business Services](https://info.usablenet.com/-industries-technology-and-business-services) [Public Sector and Education](https://info.usablenet.com/industries-public-sector-and-education) ## Compliance [Canadian Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-canada) [European Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-europe) [Other International Accessibility](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-international) [United States Accessibility Laws](https://info.usablenet.com/compliance-united-states) 2026 Midyear report on digital accessibility lawsuits in the US [Download Now](https://info.usablenet.com/2026-midyear-report) - [Pricing](https://usablenet.com/pricing) - [Blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/) - [About Us](https://usablenet.com/about-us) [Get a Demo](https://info.usablenet.com/contact) # WSJ Exposes the High Costs of Inaccessible Websites: Key Insights **By** [Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jason-taylor) on Jul 18, 2024 **Topics:** [ADA Website Compliance](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-website-compliance), [ADA Lawsuits](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) 0 Comments - - - ![See the Financial Costs of an Inaccessible Website with this blog](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/WSJ%20Blog.png) The Wall Street Journal recently released an article highlighting the current state of web accessibility lawsuit filings. Drawing from conversations with legal experts from both plaintiff and defendant firms, accessibility specialists, advocates, and individuals who have faced web accessibility lawsuits, the piece delves into the significant financial risks companies encounter if they fail to ensure their websites are accessible. Through examples of settlement and remediation costs, the article underscores why prioritizing web accessibility is crucial. All quotes come directly from the Wall Street Journal Article: [The Law Firm Hitting Businesses With Thousands of Disability Suits.](https://www.wsj.com/business/entrepreneurship/small-business-web-accessibility-lawsuits-c910f6fb) ### **Web Accessibility Lawsuits** > \`“These cases have exploded on the dockets over the last several years,”\` - Stein from defense firm Stein and Nieporent.  We’re on track for more than 4,000 digital accessibility lawsuits again this year. *The Wall Street Journal* describes the filing of disability lawsuits as a “cottage industry,” pointing out that a small portion of plaintiffs and plaintiff firms file most of these lawsuits: > "The lawyer for the plaintiff in this case, Edward Kroub, is one of several opportunistic lawyers in the New York City area who files these kinds of cases en masse,' wrote the lawyer, David Stein. “\[T\]heir rampage has continued into the new year, including another 7 cases filed today! Totally insane!”\` [**![The number of cases growing yearly from 2018 to the middle of 2024. The numbers are as follows: 2018: 2314; 2019: 2890; 2020: 3503; 2021: 4011; 2022: 4035; 2023: 4630; 2024: 4001, estimated by the end of the year.](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Lawsuits%20since%202018.png?width=708&height=248&name=Lawsuits%20since%202018.png)**](https://info.usablenet.com/2024-midyear-digital-accessibility-lawsuit-report-download-page) Data from UsableNet's [2024 Midyear Report](https://info.usablenet.com/2024-midyear-digital-accessibility-lawsuit-report-download-page) on digital accessibility lawsuits. Leading the way is Mizrahi Kroub, a plaintiff firm that filed more than 25% of the total digital accessibility lawsuits in 2023. > \`Mizrahi said he isn’t sure how many website cases his firm has filed. “There are millions of websites that are not accessible,” he said. “If you say my number is 3,000, I’m probably not doing enough.”\` ### **Accessibility Lawsuits targeting all businesses** The article highlights a key point: accessibility lawsuits can target any business, regardless of size. This widespread risk emphasizes the importance of compliance for all website owners. > \`The growth of this ecosystem reflects, in part, the structure of the ADA, which largely relies on private parties, not the government, to make sure that businesses and others are complying with its provisions. It also highlights the challenges facing small businesses, which might not be aware of web-accessibility requirements or know how to meet them.\` [![Bar graphs comparing the revenue of companies who have received ADA lawsuits so far in 2024. Through June 2024, 66% of lawsuits are under 25M in revenue and 34% are greater than 25M in revenue.](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/5-no-company-too-small.png?width=767&height=293&name=5-no-company-too-small.png)](https://info.usablenet.com/2024-midyear-digital-accessibility-lawsuit-report-download-page) Data from UsableNet's [2024 Midyear Report](https://info.usablenet.com/2024-midyear-digital-accessibility-lawsuit-report-download-page) on digital accessibility lawsuits. While any company can receive a digital accessibility lawsuit, our 2024 [Mid-year report](https://info.usablenet.com/2024-midyear-digital-accessibility-lawsuit-report-download-page) found that 75% of lawsuits filed were against companies making less than $25 million. Small businesses need to ensure they're actively monitoring their accessibility efforts. ### **The Practical Costs of Inaccessible Website** #### Legal Costs ![A gavel on top of a computer with a judges scale to the right. City skyscraper line is in the background.](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gavel%20and%20Computer%20Cropped.png?width=719&height=400&name=Gavel%20and%20Computer%20Cropped.png) > \`The demands are priced at less than it would cost to respond to the complaint. That’s the business model,” said Peter Brann, a lawyer in Lewiston, Maine.\` Companies must often bear significant legal expenses to hire attorneys and defend against accessibility lawsuits. These costs can be substantial and impact the company's financial stability. The article shows us two companies that went through the legal process and the fees they had to pay: Electric Bike, a bicycle company, and Extract Labs, which makes and sells CBD products. Both companies spent more than $40,000 on legal fees alone. > “The bicycle company spent roughly $46,000 in legal fees, Kraft said. Updating its websites cost another $13,000. “Some days, I feel like I should have settled,” he said.”  Settlement fees might even be close to what it would take to dismiss the case. Kramer Knives, a company that handcrafts knives, got their case dismissed, but after legal fees, they only paid $4000 less than what Mizrahi Kroub offered to settle.  > “Mizrahi Kroub offered to settle the case, filed in New York Supreme Court in Queens, for $20,000, Kramer said. It later agreed to dismiss the lawsuit. Kramer said he spent about $16,000 in legal fees and $3,000 on his website.”  The Wall Street Journal article highlights these costs and emphasizes the importance of proactive website accessibility measures. As an active member of the accessibility community for over twenty years, I strongly advocate that companies take proactive measures. If you've ever attended one of my webinars, you'll recognize my go-to list of measures you can take right now to safeguard your business from lawsuits and support accessibility and inclusion; in brief, they are:  - Engage with accessibility experts. - Use comprehensive testing tools- [UsableNet AQA](https://usablenet.com/automated-accessibility-testing-tool) has a free version and is best in class - Prioritize your accessibility remediation efforts. **Want to Learn More About Proactive Accessibility Measures?** Watch our on-demand webinar, "How a Blind Person Uses a Website," to gain firsthand insights into the challenges and solutions for creating accessible digital experiences. This live session will provide practical advice on how to avoid legal risks and support inclusivity. [**Register now to view the webinar instantly. **](https://info.usablenet.com/webinar-registration-how-a-blind-person-uses-a-website) [![The European Accessibility Act is Now in Effect - Schedule a Consulation now to see if you're affected](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3280432/interactive-191261690494.png)](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKKb9OrTIigpZDLr8VJg%2BUk9%2FGIjIbJW8qrKMmygIrB63Q3z2%2BrSIz78azZjjMyWRtodu4QvdtqHBx2PV3VoxvJFs8f3yuUfrHI8RX7NkbzO2cSI8%2BHoWI4YeeItf1z72xey7EhRB16BwvM%2FB1VT%2BVuiSVJP2em9oPuLZ%2Fx13BiMRKptmsNPEVBrJQuHCcbnFtkgrt0HhXVUbEBnJEAnAvWTN6IkVau&webInteractiveContentId=191261690494&portalId=3280432) ![Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Reuploads%20-%20SEO/Jason%20Taylor.png) ### [Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jason-taylor) Jason C. Taylor is the Chief Innovation Strategist and Advisor to the UsableNet CEO with over 20 years of experience in usability and accessibility. Jason is a global technology thought leader for multichannel customer engagement, actively advising leading companies on how to extend their brands across multiple channels for all users. He has been an active member of the accessibility and usability communities since 2001, which started with leading partnerships between UsableNet, Macromedia (now Adobe), and The Nielsen Norman Group. - - - - ### Related posts ![Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ![The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/The%20Low-Cost%20Moves%20That%20Strengthen%20an%20ADA%20Website%20Defense.png) [The Low-Cost Moves That Strengthen an ADA Website Defense](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-low-cost-moves-that-strengthen-an-ada-website-defense) Jun 16, 2026 ![The Economics of ADA Website Claims — A Defense Attorney's Perspective](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/1200%20x%20630%20-%20%20The%20Economics%20of%20ADA%20Website%20Claims%20-%20A%20Defense%20Attorneys%20Perspective.png) [The Economics of ADA Website Claims — A Defense Attorney's Perspective](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-economics-of-ada-website-claims-a-defense-attorneys-perspective) May 5, 2026 ![When One ADA Claim Becomes Three](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/1200%20x%20630%20-%20When%20One%20ADA%20Claim%20Becomes%20Three.png) [When One ADA Claim Becomes Three](https://blog.usablenet.com/when-one-ada-claim-becomes-three) Apr 28, 2026 ### Sign Up for the UsableNet Blog ### Recent Posts ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ### Posts by Topic - [Web Accessibility (311)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) - [User Experience (113)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience) - [ADA Lawsuits (45)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) - [ADA Website Compliance (38)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-website-compliance) - [European Accessibility Act (34)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/european-accessibility-act) - [Mobile Web (30)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-web) - [Mobile Apps (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-apps) - [Retail (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/retail) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Consultation%20Icon.svg) Need to improve digital usability, accessibility or performance? 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Stay up-to-date on our insights, the latest tech news and digital trends. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ![International Association of Accessibility Professionals logo](https://blog.usablenet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SaaS%20Theme/2023%20Header%20and%20Footer/IAAP-logo.png?width=150&height=81&name=IAAP-logo.png) © 2026 UsableNet Inc. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jason Taylor, Chief Innovation Strategist", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/author/jason-taylor" }, "dateModified" : "2025-06-11T18:29:37.730Z", "datePublished" : "2024-07-18T16:28:09.000Z", "headline" : "WSJ Exposes the High Costs of Inaccessible Websites: Key Insights", "image" : [ "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/WSJ%20Blog.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/wsj-exposes-the-high-costs-of-inaccessible-websites-key-insights", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/UsableNet%20Logo_Black.png" }, "name" : "UsableNet Inc." } } ```