Being unable to work, or suffering a loss of income after an injury, is a concern for us all. But what happens if that injury takes place at work? Your employer could be liable for damages, especially if your injury is due to negligence on their behalf, as workplace health and safety measures may not be adequate.
Don’t be fooled; most injuries will see some liability on behalf of the company during working hours. To help you understand your rights, you should contact a workers’ compensation lawyer. There are a couple of things that you should keep in mind when you experience a workplace injury, regardless of the severity of the injury. In today’s list, we invite you to take a look at the most important things to do after experiencing an injury at your workplace.
- Seek Medical Care
A medical assessment is where most people go wrong. When you suffer a severe injury at work, you will most likely go to the emergency room at the behest of those around you. Many people avoid seeking immediate medical care if they don’t feel that the injury is that serious. Often the consequences of a severe injury may not become apparent until a later stage. This repercussion is common in back and neck injuries, where the victim assumes the pain will subside, only to find that they are stuck with a lifelong, debilitating workplace injury.
The problem then is that you only have a brief window of time to seek medical attention after an injury. If you do not get a definitive diagnosis in that time, you will have an uphill battle claiming compensation from your employer. Go to the doctor straight away after any workplace injury and make sure that you have the proof you may need later on should you need to take legal recourse.
- Report The Injury To Your Work
Reporting your injury is another crucial step in ensuring you are appropriately compensated. You may have a window of a couple of days to report the injury, but it is always better to do it immediately. Generally, it is best to report the injury after your doctor’s visit formally.
Any initial diagnosis will serve to inform your workplace that you are injured and kick off the process by which they submit an ‘Employer’s First Report’ to the Workers’ Compensation Commission. This process, in turn, starts the statute of limitations (the time frame) for you to submit your detailed worker’s compensation claim.
- Keep A Record Of Your Expenses And Missed Work
Medical records and proof of lost income are crucial moving forward. There are several different worker’s compensation benefit types for which you may qualify. Usually, your lost wages and what is known as reasonable medical expenses will be covered. A detailed record of your expenses and the wages you have lost will help your lawyer in your case. It helps prove that you have suffered losses as a result of being injured at work.
The severity of the injury may entitle you to various benefits. These benefits will be easier to claim if you have all the evidence of losses incurred. To get the best idea of what those benefits are and what you may be entitled to, you should consult your lawyer.
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