Work accidents aren’t something that you can simply shrug off. As a matter of fact, some injuries can be very serious and can turn your whole life upside down. Surely, you try to avoid getting hurt, but unfortunately, with some jobs, accidents are inevitable. You should remember, though, that you have rights. It doesn’t matter if the injury is big or small; if it happened at your workplace, then your employer owes you compensation. Here is what you need to do if you have been injured while doing your job.
Seek Medical Help
The first step that you should take after you get involved in an accident at work is to seek medical help. You should tell your doctor exactly what happened, inform them about all your symptoms, and mention that your accident was work-related. It is essential that they write everything down as the medical report is very important and is proof of the extent of harm your injuries have caused you. If the doctor writes you any medications, you need to keep all the receipts to reimburse your employer for the money you spent because you must be compensated for all your expenses.
File A Report
The next step you should take is to file a report immediately to make sure you’re covered under the workers’ compensation law. You shouldn’t wait for your symptoms to start showing because some injuries take some time before they physically affect you. Moreover, sometimes insurance companies will deny your claims if you don’t file a report right away. Even if you walked away unscathed, you should still file a report. Just because you were lucky and got away with no injuries doesn’t mean that your co-workers will be as fortunate. This is why your employer needs to know what happened, so they can take safety precautions and so that no one experiences the same misfortune.
Get Yourself A Good Lawyer
Getting compensation isn’t easy. Part of the insurance investigator’s job is to use any of your claims against you, which is why you need a good lawyer. Your lawyer will help you file claims, fill out injury forms, and deal with the insurance company. They will also make sure that you receive the right treatment and get compensated for the days you were out of work. This comes in handy, especially if you live in a city with work-related injury rates such as Phoenix; in that case, you’ll need to find a workers compensation lawyer in Arizona and make sure they’re familiar with the laws in your state. In cases of disability, you have the right to sue your employer or any other involved party, and a good lawyer will be on top of that.
Witnesses And Evidence
There could be situations where the employer might try to cover up what happened, which is why you should collect any photographs and videos of the scene of the accident and also of your injuries. Your evidence should have the date and time on them as proof. If any of your co-workers were present during the time of the accident, you could ask them to be witnesses as they will offer an unbiased perspective to the whole situation. If you have a friend at work that you trust, you might want to ask them to keep an eye on your employer just in case they decide to cover things up.
Submit A Letter Of Complaint
If your injury was the result of negligence at the workplace, or if your seniors at work asked you to do something that’s beyond your set of skills or what you were trained for, then you have the right to submit a grievance report. Your employer must take your complaint seriously and investigate. By filing a complaint, you aren’t only protecting yourself but the people you work with as well. Put in mind that the irresponsible party needs to be singled out by name.
You should also have an idea about the common injuries that can take place at work:
- Slipping and falling
- Car accidents (common with people who drive as part of their jobs)
- Falling from heights (common with construction workers)
- Electrocution
- Inhaling toxic gas
- Overexerting
Even if a work injury has sadly ended your career, that doesn’t mean that your life is over. You have workers’ rights, so rest assured you can get compensated and start over. Now that you have all the information you need, you shouldn’t hesitate to take action if you were injured at work. Any action that you take will not only protect you but your colleagues as well, so stand up for yourself and take the right steps.
