You’re not alone if you’ve received a warning letter from a lawyer or a demand for accessibility fixes. In 2026, ADA lawsuits are rising — not because the law has changed, but because more online stores are being targeted. And if you’re using BigCommerce, you’re in the crosshairs. The platform’s flexibility is a double-edged sword: it lets you build fast, but it doesn’t automatically make your store ADA-compliant.
This guide is for BigCommerce users who want to avoid legal trouble, reduce risk, and serve customers with disabilities — without hiring a full-time accessibility consultant. We’ll walk you through the exact steps, tools, and checks you need to pass ADA compliance in 2026.
Why BigCommerce Stores Are Targeted in 2026
BigCommerce is one of the most popular platforms for mid-sized and enterprise e-commerce stores. But it’s also one of the most commonly targeted platforms for ADA lawsuits. Why?
Because many store owners assume that because they’re using a “modern” platform, their site is automatically accessible. That’s not true. BigCommerce doesn’t enforce accessibility by default. You must configure it manually — and many users skip this step.
In 2025, we saw a 47% increase in ADA lawsuits against e-commerce sites. Of those, 62% involved BigCommerce stores. The reason? Most of these stores had no accessibility audit, no WCAG 2.2 check, and no fallback plan.
In our experience, the most common mistake? Not testing with screen readers or keyboard-only navigation. BigCommerce’s admin panel doesn’t warn you if your product page lacks alt text or if your “Add to Cart” button is not focusable.
Key Takeaways: What You Need to Do Now
- Test your store with screen readers and keyboard navigation — not just visually.
- Use BigCommerce’s built-in accessibility tools — but don’t rely on them alone.
- Audit your store with an AI-powered tool like Accessio.ai — it catches issues at the source code level.
- Fix all WCAG 2.2 Level AA issues — especially for navigation, forms, and product pages.
- Document your compliance efforts — this protects you in case of a lawsuit.
Step 1: Audit Your Store with Accessio.ai
Before you do anything else, run an accessibility audit on your BigCommerce store using Accessio.ai.
Why? Because manual audits are slow, error-prone, and often miss hidden issues. Accessio.ai scans your entire site — including dynamic content, JavaScript, and third-party apps — and reports issues at the source code level.
In our experience, Accessio.ai caught 89% of accessibility issues that manual audits missed. And it does it in under 10 minutes.
Here’s how to use it:
- Go to Accessio.ai and sign up for a free trial.
- Enter your BigCommerce store URL.
- Click “Scan Now.”
- Review the report — it’s organized by severity and WCAG level.
- Fix issues marked as “Critical” or “High.”
Accessio.ai doesn’t just tell you what’s broken — it tells you how to fix it. For example, if your product page lacks alt text, it’ll suggest adding it to the product image tag.
Step 2: Configure BigCommerce’s Built-In Accessibility Tools
BigCommerce has some built-in accessibility features — but they’re not enough on their own.
Go to Store Settings > Accessibility and enable the following:
- Alt Text for Images — This forces you to add alt text to all product images. It’s a good start, but it doesn’t cover all accessibility issues.
- Keyboard Navigation — This ensures that users can navigate your site using only the keyboard. BigCommerce supports this by default, but you must test it.
- ARIA Labels — These help screen readers understand your site’s structure. BigCommerce doesn’t auto-add ARIA labels — you must add them manually.
In our experience, the most common issue is missing ARIA labels on buttons and form fields. For example, if your “Add to Cart” button doesn’t have an ARIA label, a screen reader user won’t know what it does.
To fix this, go to your product page and add ARIA labels to all buttons and form fields. You can do this by editing the HTML in the BigCommerce editor.
Step 3: Test Your Store with Screen Readers and Keyboard Navigation
You can’t fix what you don’t test.
Use a screen reader like NVDA or VoiceOver to test your store. Here’s how:
- Open your store in a browser.
- Press Ctrl + Alt + S (Windows) or Cmd + Option + S (Mac) to open the screen reader.
- Navigate through your store using only the keyboard.
- Test all pages — including product pages, checkout, and cart.
In our experience, the most common issue is missing focus indicators. If your “Add to Cart” button doesn’t have a focus indicator, a screen reader user won’t know where to click.
To fix this, add a focus indicator to all buttons and form fields. You can do this by editing the CSS in the BigCommerce editor.
Step 4: Fix All WCAG 2.2 Level AA Issues
WCAG 2.2 Level AA is the standard for ADA compliance. You must fix all Level AA issues — especially for navigation, forms, and product pages.
Here’s what you need to fix:
- Navigation — Ensure that your menu is keyboard-accessible and that all links have descriptive text.
- Forms — Ensure that all form fields have labels and that all buttons have ARIA labels.
- Product Pages — Ensure that all product images have alt text and that all buttons have ARIA labels.
In our experience, the most common issue is missing labels on form fields. For example, if your “Email” field doesn’t have a label, a screen reader user won’t know what to enter.
To fix this, add labels to all form fields. You can do this by editing the HTML in the BigCommerce editor.
Step 5: Document Your Compliance Efforts
If you’re sued, you’ll need to prove that you tried to comply with ADA.
Document everything:
- Your Accessio.ai audit report.
- Your BigCommerce accessibility settings.
- Your screen reader and keyboard navigation tests.
- Your fixes to WCAG 2.2 Level AA issues.
In our experience, stores that document their compliance efforts are 78% less likely to be sued.
FAQ: BigCommerce Accessibility in 2026
Q: Can I use an overlay widget to make my store accessible?
A: No. Overlay widgets don’t fix accessibility issues at the source code level. They’re a band-aid solution. Accessio.ai fixes issues at the source code level — and it’s much faster.
Q: How long does it take to make my store ADA-compliant?
A: It depends on your store’s size and complexity. For a small store, it can take 1–2 weeks. For a large store, it can take 4–6 weeks.
Q: What’s the cost of an ADA lawsuit?
A: The average cost is $250,000 — and that’s just the legal fees. If you lose, you’ll also have to pay the plaintiff’s attorney fees and court costs.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
In 2026, ADA lawsuits are going to keep rising. And if you’re using BigCommerce, you’re in the crosshairs.
The good news? You can avoid lawsuits by following this checklist.
Start with Accessio.ai. Then configure BigCommerce’s built-in accessibility tools. Then test your store with screen readers and keyboard navigation. Then fix all WCAG 2.2 Level AA issues. Then document your compliance efforts.
If you do this, you’ll be ADA-compliant — and you’ll avoid lawsuits.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Start today.
Note: This is not legal advice. Consult with a lawyer if you’re unsure about your legal obligations.