Company's lawyers want me to take the blame at trial to protect them — should I walk away?
This whole situation has me losing sleep and I genuinely don't know what to do, so I'm hoping someone here has been through something similar.
I'm a commercial driver. About a year and a half ago I was involved in a serious accident while on the clock. I won't get into everything, but I'll say this: I was cleared on the scene. No citation, passed every inspection and test they threw at me that day, and my records were completely clean. I still have my job.
The company brought in their own legal team to handle the lawsuit that followed. Early on they coached me through a deposition — basically told me to stay neutral, don't speculate on fault, just say what I observed. Fine. I did that.
Now, out of nowhere, the same lawyers are circling back saying they want me to admit to some level of fault at the upcoming trial. Not the worst charge on the table — but a charge. The way it was explained to me, it sounds like they're trying to use me as a shield to knock down a more serious claim against the company. I haven't been formally subpoenaed. Nobody's told me what I personally stand to lose if I go along with this.
Here's the thing: these lawyers represent the company, not me. I've started to wonder if I even have anyone in my corner right now.
I'm not ready to quit — I need this job — but I'm also not ready to stand up in court and say I did something wrong when I'm not sure I did.
Has anyone been put in a position like this? Do I need my own attorney? Do I just show up and do what they say? Something feels very wrong about all of this.