Workplace Injury: A Florida Guide for What Happens Next
Regardless of the industry you’re in, workplace injury is a common but unfortunate occurrence. And the severity of the injury you’ve sustained could possibly prevent you from working for either a short or long term period. For this reason, it’s vital to know what to do as soon as an accident has occurred. If your injury occurred through no fault of your own, you could be entitled to compensation from your company – but this could all be forfeited if the correct steps are not taken. Here’s a guide to what to do should you find yourself in an unfortunate situation.
Notify Your Employer
At your earliest possible convenience, make sure your employer is made aware of the situation. The more time that passes between the accident and your employer finding out about the situation, the less credibility your case has. Additionally, your workplace should have an ‘accident book’ for you to report any and all incidences, no matter how insignificant they may seem. And if there is no such book in your workplace, ensure that there is some record of your statement – for example, you could email a report to your employer, thus giving you a confirmed time and date of your notification.
Head to the Doctor
Even if your injury does not seem major, it’s still important to have yourself checked out by a doctor. They may confirm that the injury sustained was minor and only warrants a few paid sick days off from work – or they may discover an injury that would have otherwise gone unnoticed until later in life. Either way, if you intend to claim any form of compensation from your employer – whether it be as small as paid sick leave or as big as getting a personal injury lawyer’s help to file a case against them, a doctor’s record is absolutely necessary.
Gather Witnesses
At the time of the accident, you might not immediately be thinking as far ahead as suing your employer for medical compensation. However, if you’ve been involved in a workplace accident, regardless of the severity of the injury, it’s always a good idea to ask around and see if anyone else saw the accident take place. If they did, find out if they are happy to vouch for you in their own account of what happened. A colleague’s first-hand account of your accident could go a long way to helping your case, should you decide to involve a personal injury lawyer down the track in search of compensation.
Keep Your Employer Up to Date
No matter how minor the updates on your situation are, make sure to keep your employer in the loop regarding all developments on your injury. Whether it’s just regular doctor’s appointments, or everyday activities you’ve noticed you now need help with, it’s vital that your employer is kept aware of your condition at all times. The best way to do this is via email, as then you also have a record of your notifications. By keeping your employer up to date, not only will they have the chance to offer you compensation on their own terms, but should a personal injury lawyer be required to get involved, you’ll also ensure that your employer is unable to plead ignorance to the situation.
