It’s one of those nightmare situations that nobody ever wants to think of, and yet it can happen to absolutely anyone. If you are a business owner, and you have no idea about what to do if you ever get sued, then there is no better time than the present to find out. The truth is, this is the kind of thing you really want to have a clear idea of before it ever happens, so that you will be much better prepared if it does occur. Of course, hopefully it never will happen, and you won’t ever have to worry about it. Still, just in case, here are the main steps that you need to think about if you happen to be sued in your business.
Consult A Lawyer
Before you do anything else, you must consult a lawyer. Lawyers are there for a reason, and it would be foolish not to take the advice of a professional in this situation. Hopefully, you already have an attorney whom you can talk to about this kind of thing. But if you don’t, it shouldn’t be too hard to find one. When you are looking for a lawyer, make sure to take your time and compare them as well as you can. There are many commercial lawyers out there, and you need to be able to say that you have chosen the best that you can afford for your particular situation. Different lawyers have different specialties, so look for one who has experience in the kind of issue you are in. This should maximise your chances of coming out of the other side of the experience successfully.
Don’t Contact The Plaintiff
No matter who it is who has sued you, or for what reason, you must ensure that you don’t talk to the plaintiff, or try to contact them in any way. This is for a number of reasons. Most of all, anything that you say to them could easily be construed as admitting guilt, or some other kind of guilty behaviour. Your best bet is always to stay completely quiet until you have consulted your lawyer. It can be easier than you think to accidentally say something damaging, so it is much better simply not to risk it at all. Just stay quiet, and focus on finding an attorney who can help you to fight your case. You will be glad, in the long run, that you did things this way around.
Inform Your Insurance Company
You should have an insurance policy in place for just such an occasion. These can help to cover you due to losses from being sued. If you don’t already have such a policy in your business, make sure you get one and sign up to it. And when the situation arises and someone is suing you, tell your insurance provider immediately. The sooner you tell them, the stronger your case with them will be, so this is definitely in your interest.