Injured at Work? Take These Steps to Protect Your Rights
Your job is an important part of your life, but your career should not put your health and safety at risk. There are laws in place to protect workers from negligence and undue hazards, and other regulations designed to compensate employees who are injured at work.
If you do suffer a workplace injury, the steps you take can affect everything that happens next. Taking the right steps immediately after the accident or injury can preserve your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you are due under the law.
Let Your Employer Know
No matter how serious or slight the accident or injury, it is important to let your immediate supervisor know right away. Even if you do not think you have been injured, your employer needs to know about the accident.
You will want to record everything that happened leading up to the accident or injury, including the weather conditions if the incident took place outdoors. Record as much as you can remember, and keep your notes in a safe place.
Seek Medical Treatment as Soon as Possible
Your employer’s workman compensation insurance carrier may require you to go to a specific doctor. If so, be sure to seek medical treatment at that facility as soon as you can. That does not mean, however, that you cannot get a second opinion from your own family doctor or specialist.
It is important to get a medical evaluation as soon as possible to protect your rights. The sooner you seek medical treatment the better, and getting a prompt assessment of your injuries can help you get the compensation you deserve. There are laws in place to protect you, and you may be entitled to reimbursement for medical expenses as well as pain and suffering and loss of income.
Do Not Sign Anything
Your employer may present you with paperwork to sign, but you should not sign anything until you have consulted with an attorney. Signing the wrong form could mean giving up your right to sue or forgoing compensation you would otherwise be entitled to.
If you are presented with anything to sign, it is important to contact a good attorney and ask them to review the document The attorney will be able to guide you through the rest of the process and help you get the results you deserve for your injury.
No one wants to be injured at work, but workplace injuries happen every day. Knowing what steps to take immediately after an accident or injury can mean the difference between getting the compensation you deserve and a less favorable outcome.
