What to Do After an Injury at Work

Unfortunately, injuries can always happen in many different places. While doing your morning exercises, walking to the bus station, or while you’re at your workplace. However, if the injury occurs at work, you have to be aware of your rights, and of each step you have to take to be in the situation to receive benefits. In this article, you will find out everything you need to know if you suffer an injury at your workplace.

Inform your supervisor and file an accident report

Reporting the accident immediately is crucial. It ensures that your employer is instantly aware of the situation. Also, you will prevent possible allegations that you suffered the injury outside of work, which is one of the most common reasons for a claim to be denied. There is usually a formal process for reporting an injury at the workplace, which involves completing an incident report or any other paperwork. If you are not very familiar with it, make sure that you instantly speak with your supervisor or HR representative about that matter. Finally, report the accident, even if you don’t believe you suffered an injury. It might cause your employer to think about new safety measures, which will, hopefully, prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.

Get the medical treatment

Your health is always the highest priority. Go and see a doctor right after the injury, so that you get the necessary medical treatment as soon as possible. If your employer sends you to a doctor of his own choosing, you don’t have to keep going to them if you are not satisfied with the treatment. In that case, you will have to see if the workers’ compensation law will pay for you to see another doctor. Even if it doesn’t, you should consider paying the doctor you want out of your own pocket. In the long run, you might lose more in benefits than it will cost you to pay for a doctor. Finally, if you have health insurance, your costs might get covered by it.

Obtain workers’ compensation insurance

Laws are not the same in each state or country. However, in most cases, laws require employers to obtain workers’ compensation insurance. Also, regulations ensure that employees can’t sue their employers for workplace injuries. But the thing is, the employee doesn’t have to prove anything since (again, in most cases) they can be compensated, even if their own mistake or negligence caused the injury. Although, there are some exceptions, such as exposure to asbestos. In that case, the employee is allowed to sue the employer or a third party for the suffered damage.

Consult and hire a personal injury attorney (lawyer)

Get in touch with your personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Even if it seems that there is not going to be any conflict, they should still review your claim, and make sure that you are not missing out on any of the benefits you deserve under the law. A New Jersey law firm Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq is one of the most trusted choices out there, especially when it comes to personal injuries. On top of that, the initial consultation is free, and after that, you will be aware of all possible benefits you have the legal right to receive. Remember, don’t sign any agreements before you review them with your lawyer.

Workers’ laws do not cover some instances

Keep in mind that there are situations where the workers’ compensation law does not cover employee’s injuries. A prime example has to be if an employee was using illegal drugs, or was intoxicated at the time of the incident. Employees’ injuries will not be covered if these situations occur. Also, this is the reason why some companies have a policy that requires their employees to be submitted to a drug test if they suffer an injury at work. Finally, situations which are also excluded from coverage are horseplay and fighting at the workplace.

Parting words

Work-related injuries could happen any time, even if you are the strongest and healthiest person in the world. You can never know. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how to react when an unfortunate and unexpected injury happens. Follow these steps, and secure all your benefits.