There are many reasons your small business can fail. But many of those reasons can be prevented. While a personal injury claim could destroy your business, there are things that you can do to prevent it from happening. Find out how you can protect your business from personal injury claims.
Invest in general liability insurance
No matter how careful you may be, accidents can still happen. You should invest in general liability insurance to make sure that your business has coverage for accidents. Without it, you may be on the hook for any costs associated with a personal injury claim. Depending on the severity of the incident, those costs can be quite high.
As a general rule, businesses with property insurance also have general liability coverage. However, you can never be sure. Do your research and look into your insurance policy. It’s also important to realize that a home-run business may have no coverage. In this case, you should get business liability insurance. It won’t only protect you against a personal injury, but will also give you coverage for slander, libel, and property damage.
Whatever insurance you have, be sure to give it a yearly review. Look into any policy changes and make sure that you have coverage for the unexpected.
Do your best to prevent accidents
Every workplace has the potential for accidents. You are responsible for doing everything in your power to prevent those accidents from happening. For example, you need to keep spills to a minimum and advise your employees on the proper way to handle spills. You also need to keep your building in great condition. If you fail to do so, you may have damage that results in an accident. Common areas of injury include damaged stairs and lose railings. Regularly check the stability of your stairs and railing. If they need maintenance, don’t hesitate to get someone to fix them.
Even the exterior of your building can cause injury. If the facade breaks off, it could hit someone walking by on the street. Sometimes, you are unaware of the damaged facade. To keep yourself aware of all your building’s flaws, you should have someone inspect your building regularly. Your own vigilance can also keep you aware of any potential problem areas.
Although the idea of a regular inspection might seem costly, it can end up saving you money. A regular inspection can keep you covered if an accident happens. Because you passed an inspection, you are not the one responsible for an accident that occurred due to structural damage. On top of that, the inspection shows your customers and staff that you care about their safety.
Have a lawyer ready to represent you
As a small business owner, you can never be too careful. And that means that you should always have a lawyer ready to represent you in a personal injury case. Do your research and choose a reputable law firm, like Bruning Legal law firm. At the first sign of trouble, your lawyer can represent you and advise you on the best course of action.