The beauty of social media is that everyone has a venue that is capable of catching fire and getting the words you write in front of the masses. But with this new-found power comes great responsibility – and perhaps the need for a lawyer.
According to the Media Law Resource Center, the number of libel lawsuits is on the rise.
Even if you are a law-abiding blogger who always speaks the truth, a lawsuit can be filed against you at any time by anyone – that’s just the way the system works.
Before you air your grievances in public about a person, place or thing, try taking a deep breath.
According to an article from Tribune Media Services:
This year, a court awarded $129,794 to an Ohio woman after a blogger said her property was haunted, reports Media Law. Another blogger was ordered to pay $1.8 million after referring to someone as a “failed lawyer.”
Wow! A juicy headline can lead to more clicks and more followers, but you can bet your bottom dollar that your online friends won’t pitch in for legal fees if you get slapped with a monstrous lawsuit.
Blogging has become such a risk, that several well-known insurance agencies have begun including libel protections under certain homeowner’s and umbrella policies.
Even if your current plan does not cover such legal problems, you can likely add a rider to your current policy.
Under $1,000 a year can give you the peace of mind to speak your mind!
You can also check out BlogInsure.
