3 Crucial Steps to Take After Sustaining a Workplace Injury

Employers try to provide a safe workplace, but accidents can still happen. Here are essential steps to take after sustaining a workplace injury.

The workplace is somewhere that many of us head to and from every day. It is law that each worker in this country can expect a reasonably safe workplace and working conditions. Despite this, accidents can and do happen.

What should you do if you’ve sustained a workplace injury? It’s important to take the proper steps so that you and your employer work through the process in the proper way.

Failure to do so could land yourself or your employer in hot water. Read on and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.

1. File an Accident Report

Handling a work accident in the proper fashion can help to avoid a number of potential issues. The first thing you should do following an accident is to file an accident report.

You should make your employer aware of your injury and explain to them how it happened. They should provide you with an accident report, which you should fill out immediately.

Many states have very small windows of time in which an employee can submit a work accident report. As such, it’s important that you waste no time getting this form submitted. You can read this useful information to help evaluate the injuries you’ve sustained.

Your employer should help you submit. They likely are required to have worker’s compensation insurance under the law, and you will be compensated from this fund.

2. Understand Your Rights

If you file for worker’s compensation, you will effectively waive your right to a lawsuit. You will not be able to sue your employer for an injury you sustained at work unless you can prove that your employer was criminally negligent in some fashion. You may want to ask for an accident attorney near me.

As an employee, you can still receive compensation under a worker’s compensation program even if you exhibited some forms of negligent behavior. This won’t work in all situations. For example, if you were injured due to being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you likely won’t be able to obtain insurance.

3. Go to See a Doctor

Whether you’re filing for worker’s compensation or planning a lawsuit, a trip to the doctor is key to your future. You will need a medical report detailing your injuries in order to receive any form of compensation from any source.

In some states, your employer will provide the doctor that you will go visit for your worker’s compensation claim. Some employers might allow you to choose your own doctor or to get a second opinion.

Even if the worker’s compensation won’t cover your second opinion, it may be worth seeing a second doctor if you aren’t happy with the report from the first one you visit. Many people are distrustful of the doctors who are assigned by the insurance provider.

Following a Workplace Injury

If you’ve been injured on the job, it’s important you take the right actions. You deserve compensation for a workplace injury and the above information can help ensure you get that.