5 Tips on How to Avoid Professional Negligence in 2023

Professional negligence is something which all businesses and owners dread but luckily these claims can be largely avoided if you take the necessary precautions. 

Professional negligence occurs when a professional is negligent in conducting their services or responsibilities to the expected standard. If you would like to know more about what professional negligence is, then click here and return to this page with a new outlook! 

This standard is the level of service expected from a reasonable professional in that field. In a professional negligence claim, the negligence must result in financial loss, physical damage or an injury with evidence to support this. 

So, how can you avoid professional negligence in 2023? Here are our 5 top tips… 

1. Record EVERYTHING 

In all legal work, it is crucial to record EVERYTHING that you do to protect you from professional negligence. If you have solid recordings of appointments, correspondence and contracts (amongst other things) then you have data to refer back to if you get hit with a professional negligence claim. 

This should include all documents and information from the time at which you started practicing your profession (or at least 6+ years when possible). 

If you have not started to record all of your information, it is never too late to start! Most people have records of conversations, contracts and more already available to them through email which just need to be collated. 

2. Keep in your field 

A great way to avoid professional negligence is to only work in your field, even if you have years of experience in your field.  

Avoid fulfilling contracts or requests which are outside your scope of expertise as this could easily land you in trouble should something go wrong. Even the smallest mistake could come back to bite you if the client is unhappy. 

An easy way to fall into a rabbit hole is when you have a long-standing client who requires an extra service which isn’t in your usual scope of responsibilities. It may seem ideal to try and fulfil their new request however it is always best to refer a client to another party who can competently provide what they need. 

3. Manage expectations 

Along with keeping in your field, you should also be clear with your clients about what you CAN and CANNOT accomplish for them so that they have realistic expectations.  

You may wish to go above and beyond for your clients but if you are not certain about your abilities to accomplish this, then it could harm you in the future should something fall short of expectations. Should you try to push yourself or your business past it’s limits, then you will have to take liability for your actions. 

This also fits with our first tip as you should have this documented in writing for future reference by yourself and your clients. 

Once boundaries have been established, it will then be simple to manage expectations in the future and avoid any false accusations. 

4. Communicate with clients 

Communication is one of the best ways to avoid professional negligence. 

Communicating with clients allows you to stay on the same page and inform them of any changes before it happens. Clients are often more accepting of changes, or issues, when presented with them early and clearly so it can be resolved. 

You should keep clients updated about: 

• Financial changes (such as extra fees) 
• Extra documents which may be required 
• Changes in timescales 
• And more! 

If you leave a client out of the loop and forget to keep them updated, then this can lead to upset and a need for more serious action. 

5. Get professional indemnity insurance 

Should you have a negligence claim brought against you, professional indemnity insurance can really come in handy. 

For those who do not know, professional indemnity insurance offers protection for you if a client claims you have made a mistake, been negligent or offered poor advice. 

It can help your businesses deal with any damage to your business such as: 

• Financial loss 
• Loss of time  
• Reputation damage 

When in doubt, insure yourself! Even when taking into account all of our tips on how to avoid professional negligence, it may prove impossible to cover yourself on all fronts, but professional indemnity insurance protects you if the worst happens. 

Any professional negligence dispute should be dealt with properly but they can prove to be stressful and take up time which your business does not have. Through specialist legal support we can help ease your burden: 

• Work with a solicitor you can trust 
• Put your business first 
• Calm the storm of a dispute 
• Achieve a result you are happy with 

Our commitment to you is personal. The bedrock of our friendly and efficient approach is a dedication to your success. 

Get Professional Negligence Help in 2023 with Harry Suleman Solicitors

Get in touch now if you need legal advice about a professional negligence claim. If you need to claim for professional negligence then click here to read who you can claim against and how much for.