If you’re a business owner, and you’ve been involved in an accident that prevents you from working, do you know what you’re going to do? Medical bills and daily living expenses start to pile up for most people who are unfortunately involved in accidents. As a business owner, you’ll be no different, but on top of this, you’ll also need to consider how you’re going to keep your business going when you’re unable to. Also, consider the scenario where your customer or employee ends up injured or has an accident in your place of business.
If an accident happens in your business, here are 7 tips to help.
1. Call 911
If you’ve been involved in an accident or one of your customers, the first thing you need to do is administer first aid whilst someone calls 911. Make sure that the injured person gets the medical attention that they need. Log everything into your accident logbook and follow your business’s procedures for when accidents happen at work. Those involved may require additional medical assistance, whether on-site or at a hospital. Whatever the emergency services do, they will make a record, which could help build up your case, especially when it comes to any injuries you may have sustained.
It may be beneficial if you and your employees (if any) get relevant first aid training in cases of accidents. Find certification online training for first aid or likely medical emergencies for your type of business. The more prepared you are, the faster you can respond to emergencies and accidents in your place of business.
2. Witness Details
If you’re able to, it’s a good idea to obtain witness details, including their names, addresses, and telephone number, along with a brief description of what they saw. You can immediately pass this information on to your lawyer. As this Jonesborough personal injury lawyer explains, lawyers will work hard to put forward a strong claim on your behalf from the moment you enlist their services. Having an independent third party that has witnessed the accident you were involved in could mean that your defense is corroborated by them. This will naturally add more gravitas to your case, and help you.
3. Photographs
Take photographs of the scene of the accident. It’s important you don’t move anything, as the scene should be preserved, especially if the police are required to attend. Phones today are great to take crystal clear photos, that they often date and record the time of the shot being taken. If you’re able, take pictures of yourself so that your lawyer has pictures of your injuries before they were treated, at the scene. If you’re unable to, get a trusted member of staff to do it.
4. Medical Attention
If you or your first aider has called 911, then you’ll receive medical attention as soon as the paramedics or EMTs arrive. Additionally, if they advise you to go to a hospital for further medical attention, do so, immediately. If you decide a few days later to seek compensation, your claim may be affected if you waited days after the accident before seeking medical help.
Doctors at the hospital will make notes about your injuries, and they will be able to provide you with the necessary treatment to prevent injuries from becoming worse. Additionally, they may discover something you didn’t know was wrong, and be able to treat it, rather than leave something you’re not aware of to fester.
5. Hire a Lawyer
As soon as you’re able, you need to hire a lawyer. If you’re able to call 911, the next person to call should be your legal representative. They’ll be able to deal with your case whilst you focus on your health. A personal injury lawyer will be able to ensure you get the best medical help and take care of the negotiations between yourself and the negligent party. They’ll be at your side, every step of the way, advising you about the available options open to you, in respect of your compensation claim, and possibly prevent you from accepting a low offer from the other side. This could make all the difference to how your business is affected, so ensure you hire a lawyer as soon as you’re able to.
6. Write a Statement
When you’re home, it’s a good idea to write an account of what happened. Even consider having someone write it for you, so you can focus on the series of events. After it’s been written, leave it, unless you remember any other details, for a few days. Then read it and see if it requires amending. It’s a good idea to get as much information recorded as soon as possible, in case you forget anything. By doing this, you’re also able to use it to jog your memory in case there’s anything you’ve forgotten.
7. Create a Journal
This is an important tool that your lawyer can use in your case for compensation. In this, you should include how you feel, how your injuries are healing, the difficulties you’re encountering each day, and how you’re overcoming them, if at all, so that people are aware of how this has impacted your mental health, which is also an important aspect of your healing.
There is no minimum or maximum entries per day, just focus on writing entries as and when the injuries you’ve sustained as a result of the accident are affecting you, including both physically and mentally.
These 7 tips will help you on your way to getting help after being involved in an accident. It’s important you know what to do so that you can get the help you need in a timely manner, whether it’s medical attention or legal assistance. It’s understandable that at the moment of your accident and for some time after if you’re injured, you’ll be focusing on yourself and healing, but you’ll also naturally be worried about how this will impact your business. In light of this, you’ll need a personal injury lawyer working on your case from the moment you’ve hired them so that you don’t miss deadlines and can get the compensation you deserve as soon as possible.
