Professional liability holds experts accountable when their work causes harm. It applies when a client suffers a financial loss or other damage because a professional made a mistake, gave negligent advice, or failed to meet the accepted standard of care in their field. This is distinct from general liability, which covers physical injuries or property damage. The key is proving the professional breached their duty to the client, and that breach directly caused a measurable loss.

Typically, you are responsible. Unlike employees, contractors do not receive workers’ compensation coverage from the company hiring them. Your financial recovery options are limited to personal insurance (like health or disability), or by proving the hiring party was legally at fault for your injury through a liability claim. This requires showing they were negligent, such as by providing unsafe equipment or a hazardous worksite, which is more difficult than a standard workers’ comp claim.

Photos taken immediately after an incident capture the scene in its most accurate, unaltered state. This preserves crucial evidence before anything can be moved, cleaned, or repaired. Timely photos provide an objective record that supports your account of what happened, countering any later claims that conditions were different. They are often the most powerful and indisputable evidence you can collect, establishing the facts before memories fade or stories change.