Consequences of Violating ADA Compliance Rules on Walkways

ADA Compliance Rules

Complying with the ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) rules for walkways and sidewalks is imperative if you want to avoid injuries and possible litigation. Each state has its own rules for compliance violations and will impose fines, court costs, and possible legal fees to the owner of any construction that does not comply with the warning system needed to protect visually disabled persons who use your sidewalks.

One example is the state of California, which imposes a fine of $4,000 (minimum) plus all legal fees associated with the lawsuit. It is estimated that ADA violation lawsuits have cost California businesses in excess of $20 million per year since the ADA was enacted in 1992. To avoid this type of litigation, all you have to do is follow the simple rules for safety when installing your sidewalk.

The edging must contain tactile pavers that are detectible by someone using a white cane. They must also be of contracting colors (light colors on dark surfaces and dark colors on light surfaces) so that people with moderate sight impairments will notice the contrasting colors and be warned they are moving from a sidewalk to a vehicle motorway. In addition, they have to be placed a specific distance from the transition and be at least 24 inches wide, to make them easy to see and detect.

To find out more about the different types of tactile pavers and truncated domes, and how they can help you avoid violations, please call ADA Tile at 800-372-0519 for more information.