If your business is sued for a personal injury, you will likely be held liable for the damages caused. This includes compensating the victim for their medical bills, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. In some cases, you may also be liable for punitive damages since the court may feel that your actions were negligent.
When a personal injury case is filed against your business, it can be a daunting and overwhelming experience. You may be unsure of what to do next or how to handle the situation. Here are some tips on how to handle a personal injury case that has been filed against your business.
Getting Legal Help
If a victim files a personal injury case against your business, they may seek compensation from you. The victim will likely file a complaint with their local court to pursue this claim. If you wish to dispute or defend yourself against this claim, you must retain legal representation as soon as possible.
A qualified personal injury lawyer can provide you with the legal advice and guidance that you need to resolve this claim. This is even more crucial when worse comes to worst, and the alleged product defect costs a life to be lost. If you’re met with a customer’s wrongful death attorney, you can’t avoid getting yourself professional legal help.
Following the Advice of Your Insurance Company
Your business may already have an insurance policy in place to protect you against personal injury claims. If this is the case, you should follow your insurer’s advice regarding handling the claim. If you choose not to honor the policy terms, you may be in violation and void your coverage.
This insurance company can help with issues such as:
- Information on recent case law developments
- Steps required for processing claims
- Claims evaluation and settlement negotiations
- Preparation for trial and arbitration proceedings
- Conducting depositions and hearings
Following the advice of your insurance company will ensure that your business is protected from future actions. This way, you won’t have to cover the cost of a trial or settlement on your own.
Cooperating with the Plaintiff and Their Attorney
To keep your stress levels under control, you should make it a point to be as prepared as possible for any meeting or hearing that you attend with the plaintiff. This includes familiarizing yourself with all the information about your business and the incident that sparked the lawsuit.
You should also contact your insurance company as soon as possible to ensure you have all the necessary documentation. This will allow you to speed up the process of filing your insurance claim and resolve this situation as quickly as possible.
Negotiating a Settlement
If you wish to settle this claim before it goes to trial, you should try to negotiate with the plaintiff and their attorney. There is no guarantee that you can agree, but it may be worth your time and effort in the long run.
Although the settlement amount may not be as high as a jury’s verdict, it can allow you to end this matter without going through an extensive trial. This can help to save time and money, which your business may not be able to afford in the long run.
Protecting Your Assets
When a business is a defendant in a personal injury lawsuit, there is a chance that the plaintiff can seize your business’ assets to pay for the damages. This could include taking any money in your business’ bank account, accounts receivable or real property that you own.
If this does occur, you should take immediate action by filing a claim under your business’ insurance policy. This means that you can’t use those assets to pay for the settlement or damages, but it also means that you won’t lose everything that you have worked for.
Bouncing Back After a Personal Injury Lawsuit
If your business is sued for personal injury, you will likely feel as though the world has collapsed on top of you. Handling a personal injury case filed against your business can be a daunting and overwhelming experience, but it’s not the end of the world.
By following these tips, you can potentially avoid losing everything that you have worked for and focus on the future of your business. Although a personal injury claim will be a significant bump in the road, it doesn’t have to be the end of your journey.
Throughout the process, remember that you’re still dealing with another human being. So, don’t forget to be respectful and fair in all of your dealings, even if you believe you’ve done nothing wrong. The goal isn’t to come out on top but to resolve the matter in a way that works for both parties.
