A Simple Guide To Properly Dealing With Getting Injured At Work
Work injuries are physical or mental injuries to an individual at work involving how the work was carried out, machinery or equipment used for the job, and the conditions and premises of work. Work-related injuries are increasingly representing a significant percentage of emergencies. In most cases, irresponsible companies and careless co-workers lead to accidents and injuries at workplaces. Some of the most common work-related injuries include the following.
- Electrocutions
- Exposure to hazardous materials
- Falls leading to bone fractures
- Vehicle accidents
It is an unfortunate event for one to have an accident in the course of performing their duties.
The situation is further worsened when the employer at fault or the insurance provider is not cooperative when it comes to compensation matters. You can use several methods to seek compensation, including but not limited to seeking workers’ compensation benefits and filing a personal injury lawsuit. Payment can offer you the crucial financial relief you need, especially if you cannot work because of your injuries. The following steps will guide you on how you can deal with work-related injuries to ensure you are adequately compensated.
1. Seek medical attention
If your workplace injuries require immediate emergency medical care, then your priority should be to get help. Visit the nearest emergency medical center to attend to your needs. You then need to select a follow-up doctor who satisfies your employer’s workers’ compensation guidelines. The doctors are always classified as in-network, out-network, or non-network. Consult with your employer if you are unsure whether you are included in a workers’ compensation health care network. It is also crucial that you find out and adhere to the local workers’ compensation rules, or else you might forfeit your rights to benefits. Make sure that your doctor knows about all your injuries in detail, including how you received them. Documentation is probably an essential part of the compensation claim process. Besides ensuring that you get treatment for the injuries, it also ensures that the proper procedure to report any damages is followed. Any delays in treatment could be used against you as an attempt to defraud your employer and the insurance company.
2. Consider taking legal action
In most instances, the need to engage the services of a lawyer is unnecessary since the claims are often straightforward or if the insurance company willingly clears the claim. However, in some cases, the insurer might deny you your benefits or ignore your claim altogether. Navigating the murky waters of workers’ compensation might prove hard for you. The services of Finz & Finz, P.C. might prove valuable in your quest to be compensated and during the negotiations with the insurance company afterward. Never use a solicitor selected for you by the insurance company. Take charge of your claim and read around the subject. It is advisable to switch lawyers if you are not getting the services that you deserve.
3. Report the injury immediately
If you were working alone at the time of the injury, ensure your employer and colleagues know the incident. The report is vital if you later decide to seek compensation or if there is an investigation into the matter. Your employer and the insurers cannot dispute the occurrence of the accident, which can often happen. An employer can quickly put immense pressure on the employees and even persuade them to deny the accident ever happened. However, if there is evidence indicating your workplace accident occurred, they will be unable to deny it. Depending on the exact circumstances and the time you need off work, your employer is legally obliged to report the accident to the Health and Safety Executive. Many organizations consider failure to report work accidents appropriately as a breach of the staff manual or procedures. However, it is best to avoid the question of who is to blame for the accident at this point. Even if you blame yourself for the accident, the fault is better assessed by qualified attorneys with expertise in determining liability for accidents in workplaces.
4. Make comprehensive documentation
Meticulous records help strengthen your case and prove that your claim is valid and not just a ploy of insurance fraud. Documentation also protects you from inconsistencies from the employer’s records, thus denting your hopes for a settlement. Ensure that your records and claim are aligned to avoid contradictions that could negatively affect your case. It is also vital that you keep an updated list of all your symptoms since doctors do not fully record all your symptoms.
Work-related accidents are always an unfortunate occurrence in an individual’s career. The compensation claim should be handled efficiently to ensure adequate compensation and alleviate the heavy financial burden on the victim. Make sure that you are knowledgeable on how to handle work-related injuries appropriately.
