While pursuing any kind of legal action can be time-consuming and emotionally exhausting, certain situations warrant standing up for your rights and taking bold action. Not every legal dispute will end up in a lawsuit, but you should still take action to protect your rights and wellbeing when it’s warranted.
Here are just some of the legal situations worth fighting.
An injury caused by someone else’s negligence
If you become injured by no fault of your own, it’s worth holding the responsible party accountable. If you don’t pursue legal action, you’ll get stuck paying for all of your medical care, and any lost wages will remain unrecoverable. Granted, if your injury is minor, like a cut that heals in a few days, you probably don’t need to take action. However, if you end up needing medical care, have to take time off work, or your injury disrupts your daily life, you should pursue compensation.
Maybe you were injured at a friend’s house and don’t want to rock the boat. If they’re a true friend, they’ll help you get compensated through their homeowner’s insurance. Some homeowners don’t realize they have a duty of care that applies to everyone, from service professionals and tenants to private guests and even trespassers. Most policies should cover compensation in some form. However, you might need to file a lawsuit to get paid.
Serious defamation
Defamation is the intentional act of harming someone’s reputation, through slander or libel. It can happen online, in the media, or even in person. Since defamation involves making false and damaging statements with malice, it doesn’t fall under the category of freedom of speech. If someone intentionally makes false statements against you or your business with the intention to do harm, and your reputation is harmed as a result, you could have a defamation lawsuit.
If you believe defamation has occurred, and your reputation has been damaged, consult with an attorney as soon as possible to find out if you have a case. The burden of proof varies by state, and defamation isn’t an easy lawsuit to win. However, if you meet all the qualifications, you can recover generous compensation.
Unpaid wages
Some employers choose not to pay their employees their full wages, and this satiation is always worth fighting for. The most common ways employers take advantage of their workers includes:
- Not paying workers for the time it takes to close the store after hours.
- Not giving proper rest and meal breaks, and not providing legally-required compensation for missed breaks.
- Requiring employees to waive unpaid meal breaks as a condition of employment.
- Sharing tips that employees earned with management when managers are not legally allowed to accept tips.
- Not paying promised bonuses.
- Not paying overtime worked or paying regular pay for overtime hours.
- Requiring or expecting work off the clock.
Sometimes employers make mistakes and truly don’t know they’ve left a worker unpaid, but much of the time it’s an intentional way they’re trying to save money.
You have two options if you’re owed wages. You can file a claim with the department of labor, or you can file a lawsuit. If you file a claim with the labor board and win, you’ll get the wages you’re owed, but they don’t typically award the allowable penalties. However, if you file a lawsuit, you could recover thousands of dollars in compensation through a settlement. It all depends on the specifics of your case.
Slumlord behavior
If you’re dealing with a slumlord for a landlord, you definitely should pursue action against them. For example, if they aren’t making repairs, aren’t fixing dangerous situations, you’re stuck without hot water, they’re not allowing you to have an emotional support animal, they won’t accommodate a reasonable request for your disability, or anything else, that’s a good reason to pursue legal action. It’s not fair for them to leave you high and dry as a tenant, and not take care of your needs.
Consult a lawyer to see if your landlord is violating your rights as a tenant, and if so, take fast action. You can potentially recover a good amount of money, and if their violations are serious enough, they might even be required to pay for your relocation.
Make informed decisions
These are just some common situations worth legally pursuing. Before making any decisions, consult an attorney to get professional advice. Never go into a legal battle alone, and be willing to engage in arbitration or mediation to resolve issues peacefully.
