When thinking about lawsuits, many people think that it only happens to medium or large businesses and it won’t affect their small business. However, lawsuits can affect every business no matter how small it is. Lawsuits do not only occur between two big companies, it could be from your employees, customers, suppliers, or another small business. As a business owner, your job is to protect your business and reduce the risks it might face. That’s why you should put into consideration all possible lawsuits that you may face and how to avoid them so you can keep your business up and running. Here are the most common lawsuits that you should look out for.
Breach of Contract
A contract is a written deal between two businesses that should be fulfilled by the parties involved. In case your business doesn’t fulfill the terms of the contract within the agreed time for any reason, the other party can sue your business. A breach of a contract includes not delivering the product or service on time or receiving damaged products when delivered. It can also include revealing trade secrets or not paying the full amount for ordered products. In other words, another business can sue your small business for breach of contract if you failed to provide the terms agreed on in the contract. So, you must guarantee that all of the terms mentioned in a contract can be fulfilled by your business to avoid such lawsuits.
Employee Injury
If an employee gets injured because of work or while they are at work, they can file a lawsuit against your business. These lawsuits usually end with compensation for the injured employee that covers their medical expenses. However, if the injuries were severe, the employee can file a pain and suffering lawsuit, which includes compensation for their physical health as well as their mental health. Pain and suffering lawsuits are one of the most common lawsuits that businesses face. These lawsuits can cost your business a lot of money and may affect your reputation as well, click here to learn more about it. To avoid such lawsuits, you should ensure that your workspace is safe for employees and that nothing could affect their health. Employee injury lawsuits include slip and fall, which means that if an employee slips because of a wet floor on-premises while they’re at work and gets injured, they could file a lawsuit against your business.
Premises Liability
Your workplace should include security cameras, guards, lights, and all means of protection. If an employee or a customer gets injured or someone steals something from them because you failed to protect them, they could file a lawsuit against your company. Everything that happens within your business is your responsibility, so you should install security cameras that cover the whole place to avoid such incidents. You can also install security systems that protect your employees’ laptops and other personal items from theft for more protection.
Discrimination
Most of the lawsuits that small businesses face are based on discrimination and wrongful termination. Discrimination against your employees based on their age, race, gender, religion, or disability can result in a lawsuit and can affect your business and reputation. If an employee can prove that they were terminated because of discrimination, they have all the right to file a lawsuit against your company. The same applies to your customers if you or any of your employees refused to provide the service or products of your company because of their age, race, sex, or religion they can file a discrimination lawsuit.
Fraud
Your employees represent your business. That means that if any of your employees provided wrong information to a customer while purchasing your products or stole their credit card information, this customer can file a fraud lawsuit against your business. Fraud includes misleading customers, stealing their personal information, or any malicious action. As a business owner, you should ensure that no such thing happens from your employees and that they provide accurate information and protect your customers’ details.
Every company can face lawsuits that can negatively affect their business. That’s why you should be prepared for such incidents and try to avoid them as much as possible. When you start your business, hire a professional attorney who can guide you through all the right steps to avoid being sued. You should also be aware of all the laws and regulations of your cities to ensure that you’re following them. Make sure that your building is secured, and nothing can harm your employees. You should also install a high-quality security system to protect your employees and your customers. If another business, employee, or customer is suing your business make sure that you view the case with an attorney so you can avoid any future problems.