If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having been injured on the job or at your workplace, you’re going to be dealing with a lot. Although the first moments and hours after your injury are probably occupied with the practical tasks of having your injury cared for, you’ll need to know how to proceed with protecting your rights and ensuring you get the care to which you are entitled.
Care for Your Injury
Of course, documenting and reporting your injury are important, but don’t let even these essential tasks get in the way of getting the care you need. Be seen by a doctor as soon as you can (and yes, document everything you can along the way). Later, you may experience challenges with your case if you did not seek treatment or medical care near the date of injury. If you are ever injured on the job, even if you initially don’t think you will need to file a workers’ compensation claim, seek medical care. It will be more difficult to demonstrate a causal relationship between an accident and workplace injury without proper medical documentation.
Report Your Workplace Injury …
As soon as possible after your injury, you should report your injury to a supervisor. Preferably, you would report this injury in writing. Some states require that this notification be made in writing; others need only verbal notification, but it is a safer bet to make that happen in written form either way. If other colleagues were present at the time of your injury, you can ask them to informally notify your supervisor while you seek medical care.
… Immediately
Time is of the essence in a workplace injury situation. You need to report any workplace injury immediately, or the state may not accept it. In some states, there is a statute of limitations, meaning that if you miss the filing deadline, you can lose your rights to receive any sort of workers’ compensation benefits. This window is often limited, so making sure the notification happens quickly is in everyone’s best interest.
Document Everything
Record everything you can about the circumstances around your workplace injury. Take notes about what was happening at the time of your injury. Ask anyone present to write down their memory of what happened. Photograph anything you can about the site of the injury, especially if there was broken or damaged equipment, or if there is evidence of safety precautions not having been properly taken. Keep track of the days you took off of work, everything you spent on doctors’ visits and medical supplies, and any other information relevant to your condition after the accident.
Keep Records About Your Injury
As you report your injury to a supervisor and seek medical care, be sure to keep records. Keep any and all paperwork, including receipts for medical services and supplies. Make copies of emails regarding your injury. If you receive relevant voicemails, record them. Take note of who was present at the time of your injury so your lawyer can follow up with them.
Call an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Workers’ compensation claims are subject to strict deadlines and complicated paperwork. You need to be focused on recovering, not on filing deadlines. Meet with an experienced workers’ comp lawyer in your area for guidance on the complicated process. Let us take care of the claim, while you take care of getting better.