Getting injured at work can be a traumatic experience. Depending on the severity of the injury, victims may feel overwhelmed with pain and distress. It is important to take the right steps immediately after an injury at work to ensure that your health and rights are protected.
The following article will provide a step-by-step guide for what you should do following an injury at work.
Take Care of Your Physical Health
The first priority after an accident or injury is to take care of your physical health. If necessary, seek medical attention right away. Keep all records and bills related to medical treatment as they may be required later if you file a workers’ compensation claim or other claim related to the incident.
Do not delay seeking medical attention as it can have a major impact on the success of any claims filed in the future.
Document the Details of the Accident
It is important to document all details related to the accident as soon as possible in order to protect yourself and your rights.
Make sure that you jot down notes about what happened while it is still fresh in your mind, including any witnesses or photographs that can be used as evidence in any claims later on.
Be sure to keep copies of all documents related to the incident such as police reports or medical records for future reference.
Gather Contact Information
In addition to documenting details about the accident itself, make sure to collect contact information from anyone present at the time of the accident. This could include witnesses, bystanders, or even those involved in causing the injury such as supervisors or other employees present on site.
This contact information may be essential for filing claims later on, so make sure that you keep record of it for future use if needed.
Notify Your Employer Immediately
It is important to notify your employer right away when an injury occurs at work, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem at first glance. Most employers have procedures in place for filing reports following an incident like this one so make sure that you follow those protocols closely.
Also, keep copies of all paperwork filed with your employer just in case they are needed later on when filing a claim against them or their insurance company with a workers’ compensation attorney.
Speak To An Attorney
If you have been injured while working, speaking with a personal injury lawyer can give you valuable insights into what options you have available for pursuing legal action against your employer or their insurance company for damages due to negligence or other wrongdoing resulting in your injury.
An experienced attorney will also provide guidance regarding evidence collection and ensure that all necessary paperwork is filed before deadlines, giving you peace of mind amidst a difficult situation like this one.
Create a Timeline for Filing All Necessary Paperwork
Creating a timeline with deadlines can help prevent delays when filing claims and help ensure that all necessary documents are received by their respective parties before time runs out.
Take note of all relevant dates such as workers’ compensation hearings along with deadlines for filing documents related to any claims so that everything moves forward smoothly without delays stemming from forgetfulness.