You may be surprised to learn that regardless of the size of your Central Florida Small Business, you are still required to comply with guidelines set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Why should your business be concerned about ADA compliance? The ADA requirements exist to ensure that individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against and have the ability to live without undue restraints or restrictions.
Don’t Risk a Lawsuit
A strong reason to comply with ADA requirements is that run the risk of being sued. According to one report by the law firm Seyfarth Shaw, the number of ADA lawsuits filed in 2014 increased by 63% over the previous year! We live in a litigious society, and there are actually people who drive around in search of businesses failing to comply with ADA requirements, such as providing adequate handicapped parking spaces. When they find a violation, they can sue the business and, if they prevail, they may receive a cash settlement.
Compliance Protects Your Business and Can Attract Customers
The best way to achieve peace of mind regarding the ADA is to comply with it. Fortunately, most small businesses can achieve compliance without breaking the bank. Re-striping parking spaces, widening aisles and doorways, adding ramps where stairs exist – these are not prohibitively expensive fixes. The main challenge for small businesses is to be aware of exactly what the law requires. Hiring an expert to conduct an ADA site survey is money well spent, especially if that survey leads you to make changes full-proof changes that reduce the risk of lawsuit.
In certain cases, a small business liability policy protects businesses in the event of an ADA lawsuit. To find out if your policy includes language to protect you, contact us at Newman Crane & Associates Insurance, (407) 859-3691.