Every day, we see new stories about people who someone else’s negligence has harmed. It could be a slip and fall on an icy sidewalk, or it could be something more severe like sexual harassment in the workplace. These situations can cost you time and money if you don’t know how to protect yourself.
There are seven legal tips that will help keep your life as light as possible.
1. Never Sign Anything without Getting a Copy
If you get asked to sign any contract, chances are there will be a clause in it that says if you sign the document, then you agree that what’s written is correct. If you forget to ask for a copy before signing it or don’t bother reading the fine print, then you could miss important details about your case.
For example, the document might have a clause that bars you from suing if something goes wrong. If this is the case, then you’re signing away your right to sue for any harm. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t bother reading it or not; once you signed it, that’s your choice.
2. Don’t Answer Questions When You’re in a Bad Mood
Do you find yourself arguing with your spouse when you’re angry? Does the boss ask you to stay after work for something that wasn’t in the job description, but then questions why you aren’t in the best mood at 11 am?
If either of these situations sounds familiar, then you should know that the other person could potentially use your emotions against you in court. The best advice is not to say anything when you’re angry or upset. This way, they can’t twist what you said into something that hurts your case.
3. Don’t Feel Obligated to Follow Your Boss’s Orders
Many people are afraid to speak up when their boss asks them to do something that makes them uncomfortable. However, if your boss’s demands are what caused you to harm in the first place, then this is one of the most critical legal tips you can get!
If you feel like your boss is doing something evil, don’t be afraid to speak up because things like this could get used against your boss in court. You can’t sue someone for wrongful termination if you don’t speak up and tell them to stop.
4. Keep Track of the Time and Expenses Involved
It’s usually a good idea to keep track of how much time and money was involved in getting out of an accident that wasn’t your fault.
This means keeping track of the time you missed because of work, how much money you spent getting yourself checked out by a doctor, and what it cost to repair/replace anything damaged in the accident.
These expenses could come in handy when negotiating with the opposing party or if you decide to file a civil suit.
5. Keep Tabs on Where Your Evidence Goes
If you must file a police report, keep color copies of the documents they give back to you. That way, if something happens to your original evidence or even if the police officers change their story later down the road, you have an extra copy that’s closer to what happened!
6. Put Everything in Writing
This tip is one of the most important out there because it’s easy to get caught up in emotions after an accident, forget details, or make things up. If you send an email to the other party that says, “I’m only willing to pay $1000″, then you can’t come back later and say it was just a suggestion! A contract is binding, so things like this need to be discussed.
7. Don’t Admit Liability Until You Talk to an Attorney
If you admit blame or liability to your opponent, they can use that against you. Therefore, the other party’s attorney often will try to get you talking about what happened so they can charge you with an admission of guilt. If this happens, don’t worry–tell them you didn’t “admit anything” and that you’re leaving.
They can’t press charges against you for refusing to answer questions, so don’t worry about what they say to get you talking. If you do this, your attorney will be able to negotiate favorable bail bonds for you.
Conclusion
These seven legal tips are good to keep in mind if you’re ever involved in an accident. They can help both during the case by helping you make sure your evidence is protected and used correctly and after the fact by giving you a clearer picture of what happened.