Can I be sued for sharing or retweeting a false post?

Yes, you can be held responsible. By sharing a false post, you are republishing the harmful statement, making you a publisher of that content. Your liability is the same as the original poster’s, even if you add a comment like “Is this true?“ The law sees this as spreading the damaging information to a new audience. Simply deleting the post later may not protect you from a lawsuit if harm has already occurred.

When can a property owner be held liable for negligence (premises liability)?

A property owner can be liable if someone is injured due to an unsafe condition on their property. Liability depends largely on why the injured person was there. Owners owe the highest duty to invitees (like customers), requiring them to inspect for and fix hazards. For licensees (social guests), they must warn of known dangers. They generally owe no duty to trespassers, except to avoid intentionally harming them. Common examples include slip-and-falls from wet floors or injuries from poor maintenance.

What is the difference between civil and criminal liability in these cases?

Civil liability focuses on fixing the harm and compensating others. It forces the polluter to pay for cleanup, reimburse government costs, and settle damages with injured parties through lawsuits. The goal is restoration. Criminal liability is about punishment for breaking the law. It requires proving intentional or knowingly reckless conduct and can result in fines paid to the government and imprisonment. The same dumping incident can lead to both a civil lawsuit for cleanup and a separate criminal prosecution.

What if someone who doesn’t work for my company caused my injury?

You almost certainly have a third-party liability claim. Common examples include drivers in car accidents, property owners of unsafe worksites, or contractors from other companies whose negligence injures you. Since they are not your employer, they are not protected by workers’ compensation immunity. You can file a standard personal injury lawsuit against them to recover full damages, including for pain and suffering and future earnings, while still receiving your workers’ comp benefits for medical care and a portion of lost wages.

Asking About Trial Experience Before Hiring a Liability Lawyer

Most people hire a liability lawyer without ever asking the one question that could determine whether they win or lose. That question is simple: How many of your cases actually went to trial? Not how many you settled. Not how many you filed. Trial. The answer tells you more about the lawyer than any credentials, website testimonials, or office handshake. And yet most clients never ask it because they assume every lawyer is ready to fight in court. That assumption is wrong.

Liability cases are unique. They involve injuries, property damage, financial losses, or professional mistakes where someone else is at fault. Insurance companies know this. They also know that most lawyers settle because settling is easier and cheaper. So when an insurance adjuster looks at your case, the first thing they ask is whether your lawyer has a reputation for actually going to court. If the answer is no, they will lowball you. They will drag out negotiations. They will make you feel like your claim is worthless. But if they know your lawyer has a track record of taking cases to trial and winning, the math changes instantly. That is why asking about trial experience is not just a good idea. It is a survival tactic.

You need to ask the question directly and listen to the specifics. A lawyer who says “I have tried many cases” without giving numbers is hiding something. Push for concrete answers. How many jury trials in the last three years? How many bench trials? What were the outcomes? What types of liability cases were they? A lawyer who handles slip-and-fall cases but has never tried a medical malpractice case is not the same as one who has done both. The rules of evidence, the expert witnesses, the burden of proof, all of it differs. You want a lawyer whose trial experience matches your specific type of liability claim. Not someone who has merely sat in a courtroom for a different kind of dispute.

Here is a second layer to the question that most people miss. Do not just ask how many trials the lawyer has done. Ask how many trials the lawyer has personally conducted from start to finish. Many firms have a senior partner who looks good on paper, but the actual trial work gets handed to a junior associate. That is fine if the associate is the one you are hiring. But if you are paying for the senior partner, you deserve to know who will be standing next to you in front of a jury. If the answer is vague, walk away.

Another angle to explore is settlement style. Lawyers who go to trial regularly do not see settlement as a failure. They see it as a strategic outcome. They know that a strong trial case gives them leverage to settle on better terms. So asking about trial experience is not about wanting to go to court. It is about wanting the best possible result, whether that result comes from a judge, a jury, or a negotiation table. The lawyer who never tries cases will settle for whatever they can get because they have no other option. The lawyer who tries cases will settle only when the offer makes sense. That is a critical difference.

You also need to ask about the lawyer’s relationship with the local court system. Trial experience is not just about number of trials. It is about knowing the judges, the opposing counsel, and the unwritten rules of that specific courthouse. A lawyer who has tried fifty cases in one county is far more valuable than one who has tried one hundred cases spread across ten different states. Liability law often comes down to local standards. A jury in a small rural county may view fault and damages differently than a jury in a big city. A lawyer who knows those local patterns can adjust strategy accordingly. Ask how many trials they have done in the county where your case will be heard. If they have none, consider that a red flag.

Finally, be honest with yourself about what trial experience means for the timeline of your case. Going to trial takes longer. It costs more. It is stressful. Many clients say they want a lawyer who will fight, but when the fight involves depositions, motions, and a possible appeal, they start to waver. That is okay. But you should know that a lawyer with real trial experience will not let you settle for a low number just to avoid the work. They will push you to be patient. They will tell you the hard truths about your case. And that is exactly what you want. A lawyer who just agrees with everything you say is not a lawyer. They are a salesperson.

Before you hire anyone, ask for the trial list. A legitimate lawyer will have no problem giving you a summary of their recent trial cases. If they hesitate, if they give you a vague answer, if they change the subject to their settlement record, you have your answer. Walk out. There are plenty of liability lawyers who can settle a case. But you need one who can win a case if the insurance company refuses to play fair. That is the whole point. Ask the question. Force the answer. Your pocketbook, your peace of mind, and your chance at justice all depend on it.

Asking About Trial Experience Before Hiring a Liability Lawyer

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