Get treatment for injuries, notify your supervisor, and document the injury as thoroughly as possible.
Whether you work as an oil driller or a software developer, there’s always a chance you may get injured at work. However, if you don’t know how to deal with the situation and make the right choices after your injury, you may not be able to get as much (or any) of the workers’ compensation funds that you might need for medical expenses, to pay for missed work hours, and other unexpected expenses related to your injury.
Get treatment.
While it might sound obvious, making sure that you’re in good shape should be your first priority after a workplace accident. While what happened might seem like one thing, it could be another. A head-bump can easily result in a minor concussion and a pulled ankle could be a small fracture or even a full-blown broken foot. That’s why you should see a doctor immediately after getting injured– which, in addition to helping ensure your health, is also important for your case. The longer you wait to see a doctor, the more likely that your employer, or your employer’s insurance company, may be able to successfully argue that your injury may not have been caused while you were at work– which could result in you being denied the benefits you deserve.
Document any evidence.
While it doesn’t take priority over taking care of your health after an accident, it’s very important to document your accident as quickly as possible to make sure that you have the evidence to back up your claims If there are any questions about the incident and how it occurred. If possible, use a smartphone camera to take pictures of the area in which the accident occurred, any specific objects or machinery that contributed to it, and one or more pictures of your injury as well.
Notify your supervisor.
It’s also essential to notify your supervisor about both the nature of the injury, as well as how, when, where, and why it occurred. Many states have workers’ compensation policies that state an employee must give up all rights to workers’ compensation benefits if they do not inform their employer of the details of the injury within 30 days of it happening. Additionally, if the injury is something that other employees could easily face, making sure a supervisor knows about it quickly could prevent other employees from befalling the same fate.
Complete a claim.
The exact nature of this depends on where you live, as the claims process may be slightly different in different states. However, you can usually acquire the required forms and information with a simple internet search, or a visit to your state’s website. Like notifying your supervisor, many states have workers’ comp policies with a specific deadline in which you should fill out required claim forms in order to be eligible for full workers’ compensation benefits.
Consider talking to a lawyer.
If you’re confused about the workers’ comp laws in your state, or your employer has given you contradictory, unclear, or potentially false information about workers’ comp claims, then you may want to speak to an attorney who specializes in worker’s compensation claims in order to better learn your options. That way, you can learn what you can reasonably expect from a claim in terms of monetary compensation and make sure that your employer isn’t doing or saying anything to unfairly prevent you from receiving workers’ compensation benefits.
Research state laws for any specific rules that apply to your state’s workers’ compensation policy.
If you’re uncertain about the workers’ comp laws in your state, it’s a good idea to do some research. Information should be readily available on state government websites and can be found with a simple internet search. When it comes to getting your fair share of a workers’ compensation payout, knowledge is power. The more you know, the better you can stand up for your rights and make sure you get the right compensation if you’ve been injured at work.
To learn more about workmen’s comp laws and how they might affect you, contact Avante Insurance today for a free consultation.