Life’s Surprises (Liability)

Life is full of unexpected events that can force you into a legal or financial relationship you didn’t seek. These “surprises” often start as small issues but can quickly develop into significant problems if they are not properly managed from the outset.

Unwanted Surprises

Managing unexpected events

Life is full of “surprises” that can force individuals into unwanted relationships or legal situations. These events often start small but can escalate into significant problems if not properly managed. Examples provided include:

Accidents and Damages: A person damaging your car and claiming they only owe what their insurance covers, or a worker causing an injury who lacks proper identification.

Liability for Others: Your dog biting a neighbor, or being held responsible for a defective product sold in your shop when the original producer cannot be found.

Personal Injury and Property: A family member slipping in a supermarket or a tree falling unexpectedly.

Bureaucratic Failures: Dealing with institutions like municipalities, Eskom, or SARS that fail to deliver services (such as electricity connections) even after payment. POM addresses these by pointing out the liabilities and financial consequences to these institutions if their bureaucrats do not act.

Our Terms

Professional Liability and Conditions

When helping clients navigate these surprises, POM operates under specific conditions of liability to maintain an accessible, low-cost service:

Limitation of Liability: POM’s liability is strictly limited; it will never exceed the amount invoiced for a specific service.

No Guarantees: While they provide legal consultancy and mediation to the best of their abilities, they do not provide any guarantees regarding the outcomes of their services.

Applicable Law: Unless otherwise stated in written correspondence, their activities are governed by general South African legislation.

Client Responsibility: Clients are required to keep POM updated on any information that might bear on the services provided. Failure to follow these conditions may result in POM halting their services, with the client remaining liable for any agreed-upon costs.

Professional Guidance

POM emphasizes that the key to managing these surprises is to act immediately when they occur rather than waiting until it is “too late”.
We provide guidance, mediation, and practical legal help to bridge the gap between you and the law. We specialize in assessing liability and helping you navigate rules you may not even realize are applicable. Our goal is to find solutions that prevent a small incident from becoming a costly “financial millstone”.

Can you help with “surprises” caused by government or utility bureaucracy?

Yes. While we cannot always speed up bureaucracy, we can assist in individual cases by pointing out the liabilities and financial consequences to institutions—such as municipalities, Eskom, or SARS—if their officials fail to act or behave properly.

How does POM assist with bureaucratic failures like Eskom?

Peace of Mind (POM) assists with bureaucratic failures by moving beyond standard complaints and addressing the specific financial and legal consequences of inaction by officials. Our approach is designed to provide practical legal help and mediation at a fraction of the usual cost, focusing on preventing a bureaucratic delay from becoming a permanent financial burden.

What is Peace of Mind’s own professional liability?

To keep our services accessible and low-cost, our liability is strictly limited. Specifically, POM’s liability will never exceed the amount invoiced for the service provided. We provide legal consultancy and mediation to the best of our abilities, but we do not provide guarantees regarding specific outcomes.

What are the first steps to getting help with a liability issue?

You can reach out via email or phone for a free initial 15-minute consultation. Before this intake, you must provide any requested information so we can properly prepare to assist you. After the session, we will provide a written quotation and a plan on how to proceed.

Not sure where you fit in?

That’s fine. The first conversation is free, and we’ll tell you honestly whether we can help.

Get in Touch