Whether you’re running a small business or a large enterprise, you may fall victim to a personal injury claim. Not all personal injury claims may be legitimate and some may end up costing you millions. Although a personal injury claim may cost your business, there are ways for you to prevent the instance of being sued for a personal injury claim. Also, there are appropriate measures you may take when your business receives a personal injury claim.
The following steps will guide you and your business on preventing and handling personal injury claims.
Get a General Liability Insurance Policy
Though a general liability policy will cost your business some extra cash, the investment is ultimately worth much more. A liability policy saves you from having to pay off any liability claim from your organization’s money. Having insurance is a lot better than seeing your business crippled financially due to an injury settlement.
If you operate your business from home, you may lack liability insurance. Alternatively, go for business liability insurance. You may also find insurance companies that offer liability insurance included in their property insurance policy.
Prevent Accidents
There are ways to decrease the possibility of business injuries. For instance, something as simple as having unrepaired and unwiped floors can lead to an employee slipping and falling. Therefore, repair any floor, wall, and equipment damage. Spills should also be wiped immediately. If you own a trucking business on the other hand, then ensuring extensive training for your fleet is a step toward reducing accidents. Accidents involving trucks and other motor vehicles can be severe, but reliable personal injury lawyers, such as a bothell truck accident attorney, specialize in handling such cases and can provide expert legal advice if needed.
If an employee gets injured due to any of these, your business is at risk of an injury lawsuit due to negligence. Also, business machinery should be serviced and maintained regularly to prevent accidents. In addition, all employees should be equipped with personal protective equipment.
You are in charge of your business’ location; from bricks and faulty constructions, everything that may cause an accident is on you. Do not overlook any maintenance and reparation.
Get a Lawyer
No matter the prevention measures, nothing can make you immune to accidents and personal injury claims. Therefore, it’s essential that you get yourself a business attorney. Getting served with a personal injury claim isn’t the end of everything. You should get a qualified lawyer because you want to win if a lawsuit moves to court.
Having a business lawyer is also advantageous because they cater to other legal documents like contracts, your bank accounts, and anything that may aid your case.
Educate Your Workers
Businesses need to train their workers on how to observe personal safety while working. The training should take place during the orientation process when they’re still new to the job. The training will teach employees how to work carefully and avoid injuries. Training is essential to organizations whose course of work involves the use of heavy equipment.
Also, you should increase their protection by providing them with safety gear. If you lack an idea of the best protective gear, just do simple research and find out what equipment best aids your employees.
Finally, ask for feedback on the level of safety measures. If you receive a negative comment, come up with solutions. Employees spend a lot of time in the workplace; making it a safe space is beneficial for both you and them.
Ensure Everything Stays Organized
Avoid having objects randomly placed all over. From equipment to boxes, do not leave things that could get in anyone’s way. Personal injury claims from employees often stem from the simplest of things that risk accidents.
Ensure that high-traffic areas are free of clutter. The organization extends to your certificates and documents. Documents may not cause Injury but might come in handy in case of a personal injury claim.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Dealing with a personal injury claim is far from pleasant for any business owner. The situation risks losing everything you have worked for in the business. It’s also a costly process that could also damage your company’s reputation.
Therefore, the best measure is doing all you can to prevent accidents. Additionally, hire an attorney; this is the most important thing you could do for your business. Ensure your business also takes out an insurance policy too. The more you prepare, the lower the impact of an injury claim, if any at all.