Injuries and accidents often occur regardless of where you might be. And the workplace is no exception. However, when an injury does take place at work, the ways to go about it may be different from a regular setting. This is because, as a person who has been injured, you have several rights, including filing a worker’s compensation claim and receiving the compensation you deserve.
If you do not take the necessary steps, you may not be liable for the claim and may have to pay out of your own pocket to cover those expenses. And if these steps have not been followed, you may have to take sick leave as well and may struggle to make ends meet for the month. For all these reasons and more, and if you’re wondering how does worker’s comp work, read on, as we have a detailed guide for you below.
Step 1 – File A Report
The first and most important thing to do is report the injury to the authorities. When you file a report with a supervisor or HR representative, they take a detailed account of what happened and how it happened. Since it happened on office property, this information is crucial to them too.
When you inform the required people, you are most likely to be asked to fill out some paperwork. This will come in handy when you need to ask for your worker’s compensation. Remember that if you do not file for an official report, you may not be eligible for claims, and hence it is important to do so right away.
After you file a report, you could always go a step further and inform the superior of the changes you might like to see in the future to ensure this situation doesn’t repeat itself.
Step 2 – Seek Medical Attention
Steps 1 and 2 are interchangeable depending on the severity of the injury. In case you don’t require immediate medical attention, be sure to report the injury first. However, if it is a serious medical injury and requires medical attention right away, it is wise to go to the doctor first. Either way, do not neglect your health and visit a hospital to ensure you are physically and mentally well.
And when you visit your doctor, be sure to tell them everything and ensure that they have a medical record of your injuries. Also, keep all the invoices with you because you may get compensated for your medical bills with the worker’s compensation.
Step 3 – Retrace Your Steps
While you may have already done this while filing your report with your employer, it is important to get a second account of what happened.
After you are calmer and receive medical attention, it is advised to recount what happened to be able to tell your story accurately. But don’t wait for too long, as you may miss out on certain details necessary to help you get your claim. So do it as your memory is fresh.
Be sure to take down details such as where the accident occurred, the date, time, and place of the accident, as well as what you were doing right before the accident occurred. All of these points will help to make your case. Besides this, you could also get the names and contact numbers of anyone who witnessed what happened.
This is because your employer and their legal team may argue that your injuries weren’t too severe and may persuade the court to give you the compensation you deserve. Hence, all details, small and big pertaining to the case must be documented.
Step 4 – Hire A Lawyer
In case you are not familiar with the law, it always helps to seek advice from an experienced and reputed lawyer. A workers’ compensation attorney will protect your rights and will help you gather all the evidence you need to prove your claim. Since they already have prior experience with similar cases, they will know better when it comes to the appealing process if your claim has been denied or if you are having trouble getting the benefits you need.
So, to ensure that you have not been denied your rights in case of a workplace injury, be sure to carefully follow all the steps mentioned above.
