6 Important Things To Consider After A Work Accident
A work accident is an accident related to your occupation.
It could happen at the place of work or in relation to the job.
The number of ways employees get injured at work is unlimited. The most common include slips and falls, getting hit by moving or falling objects, and all degrees of cuts and lacerations. Injuries, illnesses, and other harmful outcomes of work accidents usually fall under the responsibility of the employer. However, to ensure that you protect your legal rights and receive due care, read on for things to consider after a work accident.
1. Get Medical Assistance Right Away
Taking care of yourself should always be your number one priority after an accident. The first thing to do is to see a doctor. If you sustain an injury severe enough to require emergency care, get to the hospital immediately. If not, be sure to visit a doctor soon after. Ask your employer if there is a list of doctors your company goes through. If you are not comfortable with your visit to the doctor recommended by your employer, you should see your own doctor, just to be safe. Seeing a doctor immediately after the incident is important both for your health and for protecting your legal rights.
2. Report Accident to Employer
Let your manager, Human Resources, or your supervisor know about your accident soon after, preferably by sending a written report. Notifying your employer of your accident and your injuries within the correct time frame helps you to stay eligible for compensation. No matter how minor they are, you should still report them, they may become serious later. That is also why you should report work accidents even if you do not sustain any immediate injuries. Be sure to also notify your employer if you receive new diagnostics or if your injuries become more severe.
3. Hire an Attorney
Having a lawyer by your side early on makes all the difference in your position. As specialized injury lawyers of www.thechampionfirm.com put it: “No two cases and no two injuries are the same’’. Whether it is the usual practice or because it is required by the workers’ compensation law, most employers have workers’ compensation insurance policies classified by workers compensation class codes for work accidents.
This means that you essentially file your claim against the insurance company, not your employer. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for insurers to try and deny your claims over the smallest of technicalities, and they would rather you didn’t have a lawyer with you. That is when your attorney proves most important. A dedicated attorney giving your case personal attention would make it much harder for your employer or your insurance company to not give you the compensation you deserve.
4. File a Claim
The severity of injuries, sickness, or harm resulting from work-related accidents could vary. Be it a broken arm or a permanent injury, you are protected by the law and you deserve adequate care and compensation. With the help of an attorney, you can file a claim against your employer or their insurer. Although the basic rule is that employers are only responsible if they were negligent, you could be awarded compensation if your employer was non-negligent.
5. Document it All
The proof is the keyword to any claim. To have adequate proof, you should document every bit of it, starting with pictures of the accident and your injuries, medical reports, and all bills and related expenses. Also, keep a record of your losses and expenses during the time you spend not working. Since the main aim of a work injury claim is to return the employee to their position had the accident never happened, compensation for lost pay is a huge part of every work injury claim.
6. Follow Your Recovery Plan
Again, for the benefit of your own health, as well as that of your claim, it is important to maintain all medical follow up appointments. Remember that it is very common for secondary injuries to appear after a while from the accident, and to get fair compensation, you will need your medical reports to prove that. You should also take your time to recover. Recovery can take time, but it is never wise to return to your work before you are ready.
Sustaining a work-related injury is not only painful, it usually puts a strain on your financial situation and puts you under a lot of pressure. Recovering your health and your finances, however, becomes much faster and more efficient if you focus on your health and have a reliable attorney at your side to take care of the legal and administrative load on your behalf.
