Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org1 Accident Investigations: Avoiding Common Mistakes Kim Nimmo Risk Services Consultant

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org2 Objectives  What is an accident?  Recognize the occurrence of an accident/injury  What to report and why?  When to report an accident/injury?  How to complete the report?  Documenting and preserving evidence  Where to find the report

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org3 Nobody Knows Education Better What is an Accident?  Unplanned event with negative outcome (personal injury or property damage)  Accidents are the result of people, equipment, materials or environment failing to perform as expected or required  All accidents have consequences or outcomes

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org4 What Should Be Reported  All injuries regardless of severity  Vehicular, structural or equipment damage  Procedural deficiencies  Potentially unsafe conditions  Potentially unsafe behaviors  Near-miss incidents

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org5 Why: Regulatory Reporting Requirements

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org6 When to Report  Immediately after incident  Witnesses memories fade  Evidence and clues are moved or lost  Finish initial investigation quickly  The incident will be reviewed months or years later.

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org7 How to Report an Injury: Documenting and Preserving Evidence

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org8 Documentation Just the facts!

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org9 What You DON’T Want in Your Reports  Subjective conclusions or assumptions as to who is at fault  Opinions on how accident could have been avoided  Unsubstantiated evidence

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org10 Critical Documentation: Be Specific  What happened and when?  Where did it happen?  Who was involved?  Who witnessed it?  Who responded?  How did it happen?

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org11 CUA – First Report of Injury Form

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org12 CUA – First Report of Injury Form

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Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org14 Injuries / Damages  Physical signs of injury  Difficulty moving parts of body  Taken to hospital?  Treatment given and by whom  Evidence of property damage  Statements made relating to prior history

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Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org16 Accident Details  Weather conditions  Location of each individual  Destination  Reason for being there  Familiarity with location  Type of surface  Foreign objects or substances

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Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org18 When to Report  Immediately after incident  Witnesses memories fade  Evidence and clues are moved or lost  Finish initial investigation quickly  The incident will be reviewed months or years later.

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org19 Objectives review  What is an accident?  Recognize the occurrence of an accident/injury  What to report and why?  When to report an accident/injury?  How to complete the report?  Documenting & preserving evidence  Where to find the report

Education's Own Insurance Companywww.ue.org20 Q & A