Exercise Diligence When Leaving an Online Review
A Negative Online Review Can Leave You Liable
Everyone today is connected in some way to social media. It can be by Facebook, Yelp, email or other internet outlets. When you write something, you leave your fingerprint for everyone to see. If you go to a restaurant, dentist, daycare or other business and have a bad experience, you might think of writing a bad review on the company’s Facebook page or Yelp. If you decide to do this, it is important to exercise caution about how you word your experience as recent cases have shown you can be sued for libel – even if you think the review was justified. This can be a very frightening situation and how on earth can you afford to pay attorney fees? What do you do?
If you have the right coverage on your homeowners insurance, you likely have protection for these personal offenses such as libel, slander or defamation of character. If you receive a lawsuit, you need to contact your homeowners insurance claim’s department right away. The claims department will defend you and pay for damages up to certain limits on your policy. If you want to be extra cautious, you can get an umbrella insurance policy that would give you coverage above and beyond your homeowners policy for attorney fees and any damages awarded. It is important to understand your home or renters insurance.
If you have questions about one of these policies, feel free to contact one of our licensed agents at First Rate Insurance Plus in Kirkland, WA. Our local insurance agency can help you insure everything from your auto and home to your boat and motorcycle. Because we’re an independent insurance agent, our agents can shop from over 20 insurance companies to find you the best rates and the coverage that makes sense for your situation. Check out our insurance website 24/7 or to request a quote.