Being a business owner comes with lots of legal responsibilities towards your customers and any employees. You will want to keep your business running smoothly and that includes avoiding the possibility of lawsuits being filed against you.
Safety And Health
You have a legal duty to ensure that your workplace is a safe environment for your employees to be. You should carry out risk assessments to identify any potential hazards, and dispose of the dangers as much as possible. A safety and health policy should be in place that all your employees are aware of and adhere to.
Your premises also need to be safe for your customers and any other visitors. If an accident occurs because you have been lax in these matters, customers/staff may have every right to hire a personal injury law firm. This could be bad news for your bottom line and your reputation.
Although you should be insured to cover any compensation and legal costs in cases like these, there is no doubt that it will be time-consuming and will not do the reputation of your business any good.
Watch What Is Said And What You Do
Neither you nor any of your employees should ever make comments about your products that are untrue if you want to keep the lawyers at bay. Exaggerating their usefulness, for instance, could be an offense under the rules of the state you are based in. You should keep to the facts and nothing more.
You should disassociate your business from any that you know act in a shady manner. If you work with them and they are sued, your business will suffer because of being associated with them.
Be very careful what you say about your competitors. If you say anything that is slanderous you could have to face litigation against you, and if they are proven to be right, that can be very costly.
Hire A Business Attorney
You should not wait until you are facing court action before you hire an attorney,.That will not give you any time to chat to a few and find the best one for you. Speak with several law firms before any trouble happens, and then you will know who to call if you are sued for anything.
Separate Legal Entities
You should safeguard your own personal assets by making yourself and your business separate legal entities. Incorporate your business or let a trust own it so that your home, car and anything else personal is safe if the business is successfully sued.
Be Insured
Most businesses will insure their stock and any equipment they own, but they should all have liability insurance as well. If for instance, a consumer is hurt because one of your products is faulty, your liability insurance will cover the costs and any compensation. It works on the same basis as the insurance that covers your employees and any customers that are injured on your premises.
Generally, it is one of the cheaper business insurances but one that no business should be without.
These are a few ways to avoid litigation against your business and if you handle things as you should, you will probably never be sued.