5 Things You Should Never Do If You Are Being Sued
Lawsuits are a way of life as 15 million civil suits are filed every year. So, it isn’t unrealistic for you to be on the wrong end of a service notice. Getting sued is a scary and unpredictable time, especially if you have never been through the process. With that in mind, there are mistakes you cannot afford to make and must avoid at all costs. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Don’t Admit Fault
As soon as the plaintiff brings the motion to the court, they will look for an easy victory. The simplest way to win is to provide evidence the defendant was at fault. Unfortunately, this isn’t difficult to come across because people rat on themselves. Whether you feel you are guilty or not, you should keep your lips closed. It is not your job to decide whether you are at fault; it is the justice system’s.
2. Don’t Throw Away Files
Because you are the defendant, there will come a time when you have to prove your innocence. In a court of law, your word versus theirs will not cut it, so gathering proof is essential. Usually, you will keep evidence on your laptop or phone, and you might even print it out and store it in a drawer. Whatever you do, don’t throw any of it in the trash. Even if it appears worthless, you never know what will come in handy in a lawsuit.
3. Don’t Go It Alone
One of the reasons people use lawyers like Mark Reynolds is due to their expertise. After several years at law school and numerous court cases, they know the law inside and out. You, on the other hand, are a layman who doesn’t understand the process and what it takes to win. Therefore, you will need legal help on your side if you are going to win. Regardless of the cost, you must find a way to get a good attorney to take on your case.
4. Don’t Talk To The Plaintiff Out Of Court
It is tempting to think you can bypass the red tape and settle things man to man or woman to woman. However, you have to resist this temptation at all costs. Speaking to the plaintiff or a judge out of court is something the opposing side will use to show your guilt. After all, it does look weird to a judge and a jury. The key is to leave the negotiations to your legal team because that is why you pay them in the first place.
5. Don’t Assume It Will Go To Court
In fact, assume it won’t because 95% of suits settle before there is a trial. Attorneys on both sides know that a judge and jury are unpredictable and clear cut cases can fail. Therefore, the odds are high that your lawyer will look to come to a compromise. So, don’t work yourself up and stress out about a day in court that might never come. It only makes handling the process much harder for you and your legal team as it leads to stupid errors in judgment.
Hopefully, it will never happen to you, but if it does, make sure you steer clear of the above.
