Planning for the worst-case scenario is the best way to be prepared when and if something were to ever happen to you or your loved ones. Injuries or even death can wreak havoc on any family, and the long-lasting impact could mean that you lose financial stability. This means more than having health insurance. Health insurance won’t cover any debts you incur because you’ve missed payments while you are hospitalized. Health insurance won’t cover any loss of income. Health insurance won’t get compensation for you if you were hurt at the negligence of someone else.
For many, getting hurt and being put out of work is a death sentence.
- Have Money Saved for Emergencies
Nearly half of all Americans live on from paycheck-to-paycheck. Broken down, that means that 41% of men and 56% of women cannot survive missing a single paycheck. Their financial situation is so perilous that being hurt and put out of work for even one month could mean the difference between having a home and not.
This number goes up even higher when you look at the percentage of Americans who would be unable to save for more than six months in advance. 52% of men and 69% of women would be unable to support themselves for the months ahead if they were to lose their job, get injured, or even face an emergency, like their car breaking down.
A survey in 2016 determined that a 69% majority of Americans have less than $1000 in savings. Of that 69%, 34% had no savings to speak of whatsoever. Losing your job when you have so little saved can feel like a death wish on its own, which is why it should be your top priority to have enough saved to get you through emergency situations.
It is advisable to have savings that would support you for 8 months to a year. Put the money away in a savings account so that you can collect interest. This money isn’t for a rainy day, it is there to make sure you get through rock bottom. You can do this by investing in a 401(k) plan or a retirement savings account.
So, how do you start saving when you are already living paycheck to paycheck? Making drastic changes is a good place to start. For instance, if you can, move back home so that you can put away what you were paying in rent into your savings. Elsewise setting out a very careful budget for necessities and cancelling out “luxuries” is another place to look. Similarly, set aside an amount every month, whether it is $50 or $100 or anything you can manage, and put it into your savings account. Just because it isn’t feasible to save enough to support yourself for a year doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get started right now.
Just because it feels like you’re doing all you can to survive on each paycheck, doesn’t mean that you are doing everything you can. Sit down with someone and go through your expenses and earnings, and try to find creative solutions to saving more. This could mean moving to a cheaper apartment or room, moving home, or simply buying mostly frozen food.
You might find it difficult to save money when it’s hard to go each month with what you already have, but you can. Don’t get caught by an unforeseen accident, a job loss, or any other problem. You want to be able to survive through rock bottom, and to do that you must financially prepare for it.
- Be Proactive with Your Safety
Being proactive is one of the best ways to stay safe. So many accidents and injuries occur because of carelessness and a lack of judgement. Simply being aware of the dangers and being prepared for accidents is a great way to increase your personal safety. This includes:
- Not rushing – rushing means that people get careless with how they act in their physical environment. Work on making sure you do everything in a timely matter so that you don’t have to rush about in your home, in a car, or on a street. Rushing can cause accidents, injuries, and, in severe cases (typically when you are driving) even death.
- Follow safety instructions – reading instructions might sound tedious, but it holds a lot of important information. Most substances or products will come with a detailed list of side effects and dangers to look out for. When you are purchasing or using cleaning products, for instance, always be aware of the warning label.
- Watch for accidents – get into the habit of scanning your environment for potential accidents-in-waiting. Anything from a knife that is too close to the edge of the counter, to someone walking out in front of a parked car. Keep an eye open for dangerous set-ups and prepare yourself in advance. Watch the space underneath parked cars for pedestrians’ feet, keep dangerous, sharp equipment away from the edge. Being proactive means always being aware and always being prepared.
- Have Contingency Plans
The best way to be prepared in case of an injury is to have contingency plans. For instance, if you get hospitalized, who is prepared to take care of your kids? If you lose your job, do you have a backup job at a friend’s place of work where you can make an income while you look for a more permanent solution? Contingency plans are different for everyone, but knowing in advance that there are people you can turn to when you are in a bind is how you will get past the worst.
In general, people don’t like to be asked on the spot. When they are not prepared to help you, you will probably find that there is not a lot that they can do. If, however, you make plans well in advance, they will know and be aware. Giving people a head’s up is not only courteous, it’s also practical.
- When Applicable, Demand Compensation
The best case in a worst-case scenario is that you were injured because of the negligence of someone else. This means that, while yes, you may be injured, you have the right to be compensated for your pain, loss of income, and damages to your property. That is where a personal injury lawyer will come in. Go to StephenBabcock.com to hire your experienced lawyer today, and get the compensation you deserve. It can be extremely stressful having to go through the court system to receive compensation, which is why hiring a lawyer to handle your case is necessary to ease the burden.
Compensation is a billion-dollar industry, but you must prove negligence in order to receive any money. Examples of negligence include:
A Car Accident That Was Not Your Fault
The only time a car accident that was not your fault is not due to another driver is when the accident occurred because of a machine malfunction. In that case, your case would not be with the driver, but with the manufacturer of the car itself. Rear-end accidents will always be the other person’s fault unless you reversed into them.
Typically, if you were in an accident, where everything that you were doing was correct and perfectly legal, and the other person’s actions were not, you will be owed compensation.
Medical Malpractice
Malpractice suits are always difficult to win, because you must prove negligence. However, if you were given the wrong surgery, or were otherwise poorly cared for during your recovery, you should press the case. Medical malpractice could be anything from misdiagnosis to being given the wrong prescription, to receiving the wrong surgery. They are not, however, easy cases. Each one depends on the situation, and proving negligence can be hard. That is why you need a lawyer to help you through the process.
Dangerous Environments
The owner of a premises is responsible for the safety of those on their property. The only time they are not responsible is when the person who has been injured had been trespassing. If you are hurt because the owner was neglected to keep his or her property up to code, you have a case to win compensation.
Being prepared for the worst is the only way you will be able to survive this game called life, and get past it. No one can predict the future, and not being prepared is a sure-fire way to lose everything you hold dear to you. Start today and save. Even if nothing happens to you, the money you start saving today will simply be your retirement fund. It’s never too early to start saving! Save a percentage of your paycheck each month, for emergency cases, or, even, for a big trip. It’s always good to have money to keep your situation stable. Be proactive with your safety and know your legal options. Together, they can mean that you are not only prepared to take care of yourself if you are injured, you are ready and aware of the processes you need to get the compensation that you are owed.
