Chances are, that at some point in your working career you will suffer an injury while you are at work. You may have suffered one before or witnessed an accident occur involving someone else. If so, did you take the proper steps afterward? Work related injuries are quite common. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Department reports that in 2016 there were close to 3 million injuries in the workplace! These injuries can be very stressful and lead to even more stressful situations.
You will want to make sure you have followed the correct procedures to eliminate any additional difficulties. Afterall, when you are taking time off from work to recover physically, you do not want the added stress of wondering how you are going to pay medical bills which aren’t being covered by workers compensation! This can be avoided by making sure you follow these simple steps to obtain the necessary compensation for your injuries.
Obtain Medical Attention
A common mistake make by employees injured on the job, is waiting to seek medical attention. If injured you should always see a doctor immediately not only for your physical health but for your financial health as well. Even you think an injury isn’t that bad, there is a possibility that later on the injury could worsen for you. You will need the initial medical documentation to obtain proper workers compensation from your employer, and to prove the injury did not occur somewhere other than your workplace.
Report The Injury At Work
After you are certain you and others are safe you should report the injury to management or the appropriate department. This is very important in making sure that you can later obtain compensation benefits. Some places of employment may even have disciplinary actions for not reporting an injury that occured on the job. Of course, if your injury is serious and needs immediate treatment, seek medical attention first. You health and safety are your top concern.
File A Claim
If you did not file the appropriate paperwork for a workers compensation claim when you reported your injury at work, you need to do so as soon as possible. Sometimes this can be a confusing process, especially if you suffered a more serious injury. If you feel uncomfortable or insecure in completing this claim, you may benefit from consulting an attorney. Injuries occur at work frequently and anyone can be injured, so many of the questions you probably have can be answered by an experienced lawyer.
You will want to be sure that you follow your doctor’s orders to make a complete recovery and return to work when you are able. If you have any required follow ups, be sure to attend them. Additionally, if there ends up being any hearings or meetings held surrounding your workers compensation case attend those as well.
Injuries on the job unfortunately happen frequently and some jobs are particularly dangerous. By completing these steps rest assured that you have done everything necessary on your end to obtain the compensation you need so that you can focus on recovering.
Author Bio:
Tom Moverman is a sponsor of LipsigBronx.com, the firm was founded with Harry Lipsig and his partners in 1989. The firm’s focus is in products liability, personal injury, construction accidents, car accidents and medical malpractice.