Website Accessibility Obligations for businesses serving customers in the US, EU or UK
If your business has a public website, accessibility is no longer just a ‘nice to have’. It’s increasingly a legal and commercial risk, especially if you have customers/ users in the US or EU.
Who this is most relevant for:
Accessibility enforcement is currently most active against consumer-facing (B2C) websites, particularly e-commerce, retail, hospitality, travel and online services.
That said, B2B businesses are not exempt especially where websites are public-facing or form part of the customer journey for example, where websites include onboarding, demo bookings or portals.
Here’s the plain-English version of what you need to know.
🇺🇸 United States: The Highest Risk Area
If people in the US can use your website, particularly to browse, buy or sign up for services, you can be sued if it’s not accessible to people with disabilities – even if your business isn’t based in the US.
Why you should care:
- The US is extremely litigious.
- There are many repeat claimants who actively look for non-accessible websites.
- These claims have increased significantly in recent years.
- Each claim typically costs businesses $50,000–$60,000 to settle, before you even factor in management time or reputational damage.
Well-known US examples include Domino’s and Target.
Domino’s was sued by a blind customer who couldn’t order online using a screen reader; the case went all the way to the US Supreme Court, which declined to intervene, leaving the claim to proceed. Target also faced a landmark lawsuit brought by the National Federation of the Blind and ultimately settled for millions of dollars after its website was alleged to be inaccessible. Together, these outcomes reinforce that U.S. courts and defendants have increasingly treated websites as subject to disability discrimination laws.
What to do now:
- If you have US users or customers, accessibility should be treated as a priority.
- Run an accessibility check on your website.
- Free tools (such as AccessiBe’s audit tool) can highlight issues, but most businesses will need specialist help to fix them properly.
🇪🇺 European Union: New Rules Now in Force
From 28 June 2025, businesses selling to EU consumers must make their websites and apps accessible.
Who this applies to:
- Any business offering goods or services to people in the EU.
- It doesn’t matter where your business is based – the rules still apply.
- There are some limited exemptions (for example, certain microenterprises), but many consumer-facing businesses will be in scope.
What’s important to know:
- This is a new law, so enforcement is still developing.
- However, accessibility is a clear regulatory priority for the EU.
- Businesses that wait may face higher costs later if they need to rush fixes.
Enforcement will be carried out by national regulators in each EU Member State, and while the rules apply broadly, some sectors and types of services will be more heavily prioritised for enforcement than others.
In France last year, disability rights groups filed formal legal actions against several major retailers (including Auchan, Carrefour, E. Leclerc and Picard) because their websites and mobile apps were not accessible to visually impaired users – including problems with screen-reader compatibility and keyboard navigation. This wasn’t just a warning: the groups went to court seeking emergency orders requiring immediate fixes, marking one of the first direct uses of the EAA’s legal powers in the EU.
What to do now:
- If you have EU customers, review your website accessibility sooner rather than later.
- Building accessibility in early is cheaper than retrofitting it later.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Lower Risk, But Still Relevant
UK businesses must take reasonable steps to make their websites usable for people with disabilities (Equality Act 2010).
What this means in practice:
- You don’t need perfection, but you do need to show you’ve thought about accessibility.
- Public sector organisations have stricter rules, but private businesses are still exposed to complaints (via social media, customer services or disability advocacy groups) and legal claims.
Why it still matters:
- While claims are less common than in the US, they do happen.
- Reputational damage and negative publicity are often a bigger risk than legal action itself.
What to do now:
- UK-based businesses should identify obvious accessibility barriers on their sites.
- Fixing issues early is almost always faster and cheaper.
WCAG 2.1.
Across the US, EU and UK, WCAG 2.1 (and increasingly WCAG 2.2) is the most commonly accepted benchmark for accessibility:
Why this matters:
- Courts and regulators consistently refer to it.
- Aligning with it significantly reduces legal risk.
- It also improves usability for all users, not just those with disabilities.
Our recommendation:
- Have your website reviewed against WCAG 2.1.
- Create a clear plan to fix any gaps – you don’t need to do everything overnight, but you do need to start.
Key Takeaway
If your website is public and especially if you have users in the US or EU, accessibility is no longer optional.
A short, proactive review now can:
- Reduce the risk of expensive legal claims
- Protect your brand
- Make your website better for all users
If you’d like help understanding what this means for your business, we’re happy to talk. Get in touch on info@legaledge.co.uk
