When a personal injury claim is made against your company, things can get hectic. Issues arise searching for documents, to preparing statements, your business and employees can suffer. Here are a few things you can do to defend your company, and prevent these sorts of situations from happening in the first place though.
Prevention is better than a cure
Preventing an accident is the most important thing you can do to save your company from a law suit. Of course, sometimes things just happen, but there are a few simple things you can do to make sure fewer accidents happen in your business. Keep all your equipment up to date. No matter what kind of business you have, make sure everything is always working in great condition. Keep an accurate record of all updates to equipment and any resolved issues. When something breaks, fix it immediately. The last thing you want is someone getting hurt on a broken machine. These improvements will keep your employees and your company safe.
File the accident report immediately
When an accident does occur, take care of it immediately. Go through all the proper channels; do not skip any steps. This way you will know exactly what was done if a claim is filed. Write up an accident report immediately documenting the issue. This way you will have already prepared your witness statements. A late accident report can hurt your chance in court and make it seem like it was not an emergency to you. It can also be used as a flaw in your story. A lawyer could say that between the time the accident happened and when the report was filed, words were spoken or actions were taken that were not necessary to the health of the employee.
Keep all records
If a claim is filed, you will need records off all the information above. Save all accident reports, equipment reports, and first aid reports from the last 12 months. This will make sure you have all the correct information. Also keep any record of similar accidents handy. You are going to have to defend yourself and your company to the full extent. So make sure all the records are organized and handy at any moment. Also contact anyone who can make your case stronger. Whether it is a mechanic who worked on the machine that caused the accident, or another employee who witnesses the accident, everything must be out in the open to ensure the safety of your company.
Accidents happen all the time, but it is important to know what to do when an accident does happen. We at the Sodhi Law Group believe that the best way to defend your company is to do everything by the book and keep records of everything. If you have any questions or are involved in a personal injury case give us a call at (209) 900-8200! Or fill out the web form so we can help you take the next step for your business.