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What to Do If an Employee Gets Hurt at Work

Personal injuries in the workplace are thankfully less and less common these days. This is because stringent health and safety regulations help employers and workers alike avoid serious consequences. Nonetheless, there could come a time when one of your employees gets hurt at work. If this happens, would you know what to do?

Of course, you have done all you can to protect your employees from harm and keep them safe as they do their jobs. However, accidents can and do still happen. Moreover, if one of your employees has been hurt at work they are likely to seek legal advice.

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#1. Check Your Employment Contract

First of all, make sure all of your employment contracts are up to date. Have you run them past your legal counsel? If not, now would be a good time to do that.

Make sure you have workers’ compensation insurance. Most states require workers’ compensation insurance, so you probably do have it, but it never hurts to check. Your accountant should be able to tell you if you don’t already know.

If an employee has been hurt at work and your insurance is all in order, you may be able to settle outside of court.

However, it is likely that your employee’s friends and family have advised them to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. If that’s the case, you might need to hire an attorney who can represent you as well. While you want to be fair to your employee who has been hurt at work, you also need to protect your business.

#2. Check with People You Know Who Have Been Hurt at Work

Do you know somebody who has previously been hurt at work? Has this person managed to win a large amount of compensation with the help of a personal injury lawyer? It’s always worth asking your family and friends about their experiences. This way, you’ll have a better idea of how to defend yourself, should it come to that.

Also, it will give you better leads for finding the best lawyer for your needs. The truth is, most of the time, people won’t give out a recommendation unless they have had a good experience with an attorney. This can help to ensure that you’re choosing a reputable lawyer with a track record of getting results.

#3. Keep Your Options Open

Don’t just go with the first lawyer who can help you when an employee gets hurt at work. It’s a wise idea to shop around for legal services and keep your options option.

Try to make a shortlist of potential lawyers who could be a suitable fit for your needs. Then arrange a time to consult with and interview each one before you determine which one is the best for you.

Additionally, bear in mind that you can always decide to switch to a different lawyer later on if you realize you’ve made the wrong choice.

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#4. Ask Plenty of Questions

Once you’ve shortlisted some lawyers, it’s time to ask them questions. These questions will help you determine whether or not they are the right fit for your case.

No good lawyer will begrudge answering questions about their experience, qualifications, and past results. Therefore, ask as many questions as you need when an employee gets hurt at work. You need to get the information necessary to make an informed decision.

#5. Keep Personality in Mind

Finally, your lawyer’s personality can often be just as important as their skill. So look for a lawyer you feel at ease with. Keep in mind that you might have to recount difficult memories and experiences with them at length.

If one of your employees has been hurt at work, a good lawyer can help you protect your business while still being fair with your employee.