The Essential Steps You Need To Take After Getting Injured In Your Workplace

Workplace injuries can have a catastrophic impact on you and your family. They can prevent you from working, which subsequently affects your income. Add to that the medical bill could be very high, and you’re looking at inevitable debt. Being prepared for such an unfortunate incident can protect your rights and save you and your family from a potential financial predicament. Workplace injuries are more common than you think they are, as research has shown that every seven seconds, an employee gets injured while in their workplace.

In this article, you will learn the right steps that should be taken in case of getting injured in your workplace.

1. Report the Injury Right Away

Follow the internal procedures of reporting the incident to your employer as soon as possible. This is so they don’t suspect that you are trying to scam them with an injury that didn’t occur in the workplace.  You have 10 days to report the injury; however, it is better to do it right away to avert suspicions. Since some employers might try to dispute the occurrence of the incident, letting your colleagues know about the accident will give you more solid ground for your claim. The earlier you report the accident to your employer, the sooner your employer can report the incident. Don’t forget to ask for a copy of the document to protect your rights.

2.Take Photos & Videos

To better support your claim, you need to submit evidence. Taking photos and videos of your injuries and the accident from different angles would strengthen your compensation claim. Photos and videos can show who is to blame and speed up the recovery of the compensation claim. Verbally describing the accident in court is not as effective as clear pictures and videos of what happened.

3.Hire a Lawyer

There are many loopholes that employers and insurance companies can take advantage of to dispute your claim, and without having a lawyer by your side to guide you through the entire process, your chances of obtaining fair compensation are low. Also, it is better to focus on your health and let professionals handle legal matters. It is better to seek the help of a well-known lawyer; in fact, the legal consultants at https://kerleyschaffer.com/ state that winning a favorable settlement is much easier when the other party knows that they are dealing with strong reputable lawyers. Applying for compensation and benefits can get complicated at times, but a good work injury lawyer knows exactly what to do to resolve any complications that might arise in your case.

4.Keep Track of All the Medical Expenses & Lost Wages

Seek medical treatment right away, and let the physician know that it is a work injury. Describe everything to your physician:  how the accident happened and the symptoms you are experiencing. Your employers might have you see a doctor of their choice in order to make sure that the treatment plan is reasonable and necessary; however, they can’t force you to get the necessary treatment from a doctor they choose. Keep detailed records of the tests done, reports of the doctor’s visits, medication, and any other medical expenses you had to pay for. Depending on the severity of the injury, partial lost wages can be recovered too, so keep the receipts and document the number of missed days at work to build a strong claim. 

5.Keep a Journal

It is very important to know that the impact of some injuries can appear after months of the accident, and without a post-accident journal, it would be really hard to attribute any injuries that appear a few months after the accident to it. Moreover, usually, doctors focus on the major symptoms to treat the more serious injuries, so they might not record all of the symptoms you’ve experienced. Keeping a post-accident journal will allow you to have a more detailed document of your case. Many employees’ workplace injury claims get denied due to many reasons like lack of evidence, for instance. However, these steps will help you build a stronger claim that will better your chances of obtaining fair, satisfactory compensation. Always be prepared for such an unfortunate event, as it won’t just affect you, but will also affect your loved ones and in severe cases might jeopardize your family’s financial future, and it’s best to be safe than sorry. Having a qualified lawyer defending your rights and helping you collect and document strong evidence for your case is crucial to these kinds of claims because legal professionals know all the loopholes and weak points that insurance companies can use against you in court.