Risk Managers Want To Stop Drive-By Lawsuits

“Drive-by” lawsuits are a growing risk for small business owners.

As the name suggests, these suits are brought by plaintiffs who quite literally drive by storefronts, taking note of potential ADA violations like lack of a wheelchair-accessible ramp or too-narrow doorways, and sue the establishment without ever setting foot inside.

Between 2005 and 2017, filings of ADA lawsuits increased 395%, even while all other civil rights cases decreased by 12%.

Businesses slapped with these suits are often forced to settle as the attorney’s fees pile up, often totaling tens of thousands of dollars and eventually outweighing the cost of actually fixing the violation.