WHAT TO DO AFTER GETTING INJURED AT WORK
Unfortunately, work injuries are a regular occurrence, especially in workplaces that involve physical labor. The injured party faces a scary uncertainty following a work injury, because they are wondering what to do after getting injured at work. After being injured on the job, it is important to learn about employee rights after a work injury.
One of the most important employee rights after a work injury is workers’ compensation. The Farlex legal dictionary defines workers’ compensation as “a system whereby an employer must pay the lost wages and medical expenses of an employee who is injured on the job.” State law requires most employers to provide workers’ compensation to their employees. To claim workers’ compensation, the injury has to be work related, meaning it happened while performing work duties or another task requested by your employer. A claim can include an injury that occurred at a company event or a company sponsored event, even if the injury didn’t happen on company property.
Our Spear Greenfield legal team will advise you on what to do after getting injured at work. Your actions immediately following a work injury will impact your eligibility for workers’ compensation. Below are important steps to follow after an accident at work.
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IMMEDIATELY REPORT YOUR INJURY
No matter the injury severity, you should always inform your supervisor. Not all employers require a written injury report, but by filing a written form, you can document the injury. Since the deadline for filing an injury report is short, complete this form immediately following the incident.
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SEEK MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY
Even if an injury does not seem serious, schedule an appointment with a medical professional. You may have an injury that has not surfaced. This appointment and the medical records add documentation of any damages caused by your work injury. Many employers will schedule you to visit a company doctor, but you should also schedule a visit to your own family doctor.
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FILE A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIM
This is similar to filing an insurance claim after an accident. You can only file a workers’ compensation claim after you have informed your employer about your work injury. This claim is a benefit request following your work injury, even if the injury was your fault! Keep a copy of your workers’ compensation claim form.
Rand Spear and the Spear Greenfield legal team have informed many clients what to do after a workplace injury. If you recently suffered a work-related injury, call our offices to speak with a member of our legal team. We have seen examples where our client’s employers do not have their best interests in mind. Our team will protect your employee rights after a work injury!
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