A Guide for What to Do After You’ve Been Injured on the Job
For most people, the workplace is a very safe environment, and employees hardly ever suffer an injury while on the job. Many employers make a sincere effort to ensure workplace safety for all of their employees and customers. However, there are some instances where someone gets injured on the job and as a result, they look for the employer to compensate them for the injury.
Other times, work accidents may be more tragic, sometimes even resulting in death. A quick look at gore sites such as Hoodsite and US CRIME, which post a plethora of freak accidents and work related death videos, it is therefore clear to assume that work injuries do happen.
Nonetheless, whenever you get hurt on the job, it is important to look into some options so that you can receive the compensation you need to support your lifestyle and recover in a timely manner. Fortunately, for those who do get injured at work, there are plenty of things that you can do to better cope with this unfortunate circumstance.
Get Medical Treatment
The first thing that you will need to do whenever you get injured on the job is to get medical treatment as soon as you can. If your injury is very minor, then you can just wait for the pain to subside and get on with your day. However, if you believe that you have received a more significant injury such as a broken bone or a sprain, it will be necessary to visit a physician or the emergency room. With medical treatment, you can assess the nature of the injury and get the proper care from a physician.
Inform Your Employer
After getting injured on the job, it is important to inform your employer. You will want to tell them when and how you got injured on the job. It is also important to inform your employer about the type of injury you received and the diagnosis and treatment you received from a physician. When informing your employer, you will be able to look into options such as workman’s compensation and time off in order to recover.
Look into Workman’s Compensation
Whenever you get injured on the job, one of the things that you can get is workman’s compensation. This is a benefit that employers give to their employees in order to receive funding for missed time due to injury. If you have a workman’s compensation policy available, then look into using it to help you get the financial support you need from your employer.
Consult With an Attorney
While most employers strive to make sure that their employees never get injured, some others are a little more negligent about the safety of their employees. Whenever you suspect that your employer recklessly disregarded working conditions and your recent injury, you will want to meet with a lawyer who specializes in personal injury cases. This type of attorney will give you advice and offer to represent you in a case so that you can get compensation for your injury.
File a Suit
During your consultation with an attorney, you may want to look into filing a lawsuit. If you have no other way to get compensation for your injuries and your employer had a disregard for your safety, then this is the best option to pursue. Your attorney will first file forms to inform the employer about the circumstances and request a settlement. While most employers will agree to a settlement, there are some that may deny compensation, and as a result, you will need to consider filing a suit and taking the matter to court.
Work Towards a Settlement
Your lawyer will go to court with you to negotiate a settlement with your employers. They will attend court sessions and explain to the judge and jury about your situation and request compensation. If all goes right, you will get awarded funding to help you get the funds necessary to cover both medical and living expenses while you recover from your job-related injury.