Process servers perform a necessary job for the efficient functioning of our criminal and civil justice systems. Without reliable service of process, we could not prove that parties in legal cases are notified to appear or produce evidence, effectively bringing the entire court system to a halt. However, not everyone appreciates the service process servers provide. Persons being served are often unwilling to receive the paperwork and react inappropriately. While watching people on Youtube freak out after being served can be humorous, there’s a dark side to the industry that those videos don’t depict. Process servers are regularly exposed to:
Assault
The most common type of assault process servers experience is verbal. Vulgar, offensive, and threatening language is often hurled at process servers by the party being served or even their friends and family members. While the misplaced anger usually ends with just verbal insults, escalations to physical violence is every process server’s fear.
Emotions run high during legal battles, especially those involving divorce or children. Process servers have been beaten, strangled, shot, stabbed, and killed while serving process to violent individuals. This violence is not limited to the working class either; Assaults on process servers attempting to serve high-profile executives and politicians are well-documented.
Environmental hazards
Dangers come along with being constantly out in the community. Driving and walking in unknown areas are common practices for process servers. Process servers may fall victim to vehicle accidents, animal attacks, robberies, and more. It is not just the party being served that a process server must worry about.
Legal liability
Mistakes made during the serving of process can give a party grounds to request the case’s dismissal. This is a legal liability that anyone who agrees to serve process takes on, often unknowingly in states that don’t require a license or registration. Some states require that all process servers post a bond to cover some liability issues, but Michigan does not have this requirement. As a result, persons agreeing to serve process here in Detroit without knowing the rules may be held responsible for damages incurred due to improper service. The best way to avoid this is to hire a reputable, experienced process server like Accurate Serve.
These risks do not just affect the process servers themselves but also affect your firm in terms of costs, reputation, and potential future lawsuits. All risks of the serving process cannot be eliminated, but using a process server trained in handling high-risk situations while complying with all state laws can mitigate some of the risks. Accurate Serve Detroit has the experience and resources necessary to serve process for your firm safely and efficiently. Call us at (313) 385-3703 today and find out how we can give you and your firm peace of mind with all of your process service needs.
