Employee safety is among the top priorities for all companies and businesses. This is why business owners invest a big chunk of their resources into implementing safety policies and procedures. However, despite their best efforts, accidents may still happen.
As an employee, you probably don’t expect to be injured in the workplace. After all, no one likes to get injured as it can have many consequences. However, in some cases, no matter how careful you are, you may still end up getting hurt.
Suppose you get injured while at work. In that case, there are a few things you must do.
1. Seek Medical Attention
Health should always be your number one priority. Regardless of the injury you sustained, it’s essential that you seek medical attention right away. If the injury is major, contact a specialist and make an appointment as soon as you can.
In some cases, your employer should be able to give you a list of doctors affiliated with your company so you can find a doctor and seek medical treatment quickly. But if you don’t want to settle with the company’s chosen doctors, you can exercise your right to find one to treat your injury.
Once you receive treatment for your injuries, ensure to keep all the documentation and medical records and always follow your doctor’s instructions. If you’ve been asked to stop doing some work and take a rest, then do so. You wouldn’t want to cause more harm to yourself and prolong your recovery period even more.
2. Inform Your Supervisor Or Employer About Your Injury
If you get injured, you must report it to your immediate supervisor or employer right away. Let them know about the incident in complete detail. Regardless of the type and extent of your injury, it’s critical that you report it immediately. You can also use this opportunity to let them know about safety concerns that you may have in the workplace. Expressing your concerns may also encourage them to put more effort into workplace safety and prevent others from potential injuries in the future.
In addition, reporting the incident to your employer can also help increase your chances of receiving compensation without facing any issues. However, note that some states require injured workers to file an accident report within a specific timeline. You can learn more here about filing an accident report.
3. Take Some Notes
Aside from filing an accident report and getting a copy of it, it’s also essential to take some notes, especially about the claims process. Keep a record of the time, date, and any discussions you may have with your employer or insurance company representatives. Don’t forget to list the names of people who are present during the conversations as well.
Furthermore, get copies of medical reports or other documentation such as emails showing conversations or exchanges with your employer or their representatives from the company. All of these will be useful when filing a worker’s compensation claim.
4. File A Claim
Once you have all the information, details, and documentation necessary, you can proceed to file a claim. Although, note that filing a worker’s compensation claim is not a lawsuit. It’s similar to filing other types of insurance claims wherein you request benefits.
Whether your injury developed over time as you continue to go to the workplace every day or it happened instantly because of an accident, you should file a worker’s compensation claim as soon as possible. And as mentioned earlier, it’s critical to file it within the statute of limitations.
However, once you file a claim, you still have to be ready to fight, as there are some employers and insurance companies who may try to resist and deny your claims.
5. Contact A Personal Injury Attorney
Filing a claim and navigating the compensation process can be overwhelming, especially if you do it on your own. Aside from the technicalities involved with it, you’d also have to consider your next steps should your employer try to reject your claims.
This is why it’s always recommended to contact a personal injury lawyer beforehand. These experts are skilled and knowledgeable in handling legal matters that involve employer or company negligence. And so, seeking counsel is an effective approach to ensure you receive your workers’ compensation claim.
Final Thoughts
While it can be prevented, injury in the workplace may still happen. In such a case, there are some things you can do to claim compensation for the injuries and damages you sustained. And, should you find the legal process quite stressful and too much for you to handle, remember that you can always rely on a personal injury attorney to help you sort things out and get the compensation you deserve.
