There is no such thing as a pain-free or injury-free life. Sooner or later, we all get hurt, some more often, some less often, some more severely, and some only through minor inconveniences. We are going to concentrate on injuries in the workplace today and the things you should do and steps you should take after having suffered one. Of course, these are not exclusively for the workplace; a lot of this advice is valuable regardless of where you sustained your injury. The steps you follow after having sustained your injury could quite possibly impact your future. The best thing is to file a worker’s compensation claim so you receive the compensation you deserve, as otherwise, you will have to pay out of pocket to cover the expenses, and if you have to miss work, you might struggle to cover all the costs. By following the steps outlined, you can strengthen your claim.
Inform a Supervisor
The first thing you want to do after you have sustained your injury at work is to find your supervisor, and let them know what happened so that they can review your rights and give further guidance. You can also just of course, head to this website and get help from legal professionals who do their best to defend people who have had injuries in the workplace, be it negligence or any other cause. A professional and skilled lawyer will surely ease the complex legal process and fight for your rights. Regardless of the severity and extent of your injury, it is important to contact your supervisor, who will have the paperwork you will need to fill out, the official accident report. Also, when you speak to him or her, let them know of any safety concerns you may have, so they are encouraged to make changes that could prevent someone else from getting hurt in the future.
Medical Attention (Obviously)
So this one might seem like a bit of a no-brainer, but it bears repeating; as soon as you get the injury and have contacted your supervisor, seek medical attention. You might be required to visit a specific hospital or doctor by your supervisor, and your employer should cover the travel expenses. In case you disagree with the doctor’s assessment, under worker’s compensation laws, you are entitled to a second opinion. But know that the visit to another doctor might not be covered by worker’s compensation, and you will have to pay out of your own pocket. Tell the medical professional exactly what happened, and list and explain all the symptoms you are experiencing.
Gather Evidence, Sherlock
If you can return to the scene of the crime, so to speak—the scene of the accident—and gather as much evidence as you can. Write down as much as you remember as soon as possible, as the mind starts to forget details in the days or weeks after something has happened. Consider where the accident occurred, its date and time, what you were doing, and the names and contact information of anyone who might have witnessed what happened.
File the Claim
So now that you have had medical attention and gathered as much evidence as you can, it is time to file your worker’s compensation claim, which covers injuries but also any diseases you might have developed while on the job. You do not have to prove that you got your injuries on the job, but you will need to prove that work contributed significantly to your getting hurt. As an example, some people develop back injuries by repeating the same motions over and over. It might be difficult to prove that one incident caused back pain, but you could indicate that the issues began at work and worsened over time.
Better Call….
It is time to call in a lawyer, and as there are currently over 130 thousand personal injury lawyers and attorneys in the U.S. alone, you won’t have a problem looking for one. We already have you covered there, so you don’t need to spend a huge amount of time choosing the right lawyer with the experience and expertise necessary to really help you get that compensation.
Track Expenses
After you have been injured, it is important that you keep good, clean records of everything, the notes of which you will be able to use when building your claim. Keep track of all the days you have missed from work, for example, or expenses related to your medical treatments and medications, and if you have to travel for medical purposes, track that too.
It is hard to keep your head after you have been injured, but try to keep a clear head and follow all the steps we have outlined here, so you can at least get something out of your pain instead of suffering for no reason.