Injured at work? Follow These Steps
Whether your job takes you to the top of a skyscraper or keeps you working in a cubicle, there are occupational hazards to every career. If you’ve been injured performing a work-related activity, you need to make sure you’ve covered your bases. Follow the steps below to make sure your rights – and health – are protected.
Get First Aid
If you’re injured or ill, your primary concern should be your health. Be sure that the first step you take is to treat your injury. Small injuries like falls, cuts, sprains, etc., can become more serious if they aren’t treated right away.
Tell Your Employer
When you are injured or your occupation has cause a diagnosed disease, talk to your employer right away. Your employer will be receiving the workers compensation paperwork from your healthcare provider, so they’ll need to know about the injury and situation beforehand. You can also discuss with your employer any needed time off or an adjustment to your work schedule or duties.
See a Doctor
If you need immediate professional treatment, go to an emergency room, urgent care facility, or healthcare provider immediately. Tell the admitting nurse or receptionist that you were injured at work. These professionals will be able to help you fill out and file the necessary workers’ compensation forms.
File a Claim
If your employer is at fault for an injury at work, you may want to file a claim for compensation. This claim must be made within three years of the accident, injury, or diagnosis, and you will likely need an attorney to represent you. Your employer, by law, must be insured to cover a personal injury claim. Just remember that personal injury lawsuits are there to protect you from losing the compensation you might have had had you not been injured, and should not be treated as a way to get “free” money.
Have you been injured at work? Call us today to find our how we can help, (702) 333-0000.