If you sustain an injury at work, it’s important to know what steps to take so that you can act quickly. You’ll want to file any sort of accident report paperwork with your office. Then, seek medical advice and see if you have any injuries. Update your employer on any injuries they find so that they can file a workers’ compensation claim for you. And finally, consult an attorney who is familiar with workers’ compensation claims. Hopefully, knowing these steps upfront will help you act quickly in the event of a workplace injury.
What to do After an Injury at Work: Next Steps
File an Accident Report
The first step to take if you have an injury at work that is not life-threatening is to go ahead and file an accident report out. Be thorough and honest with your explanation of events. Some places have very short time frames in which a company can file a workers’ compensation claim, so alert your employer of any injuries immediately. Even if you think you are unhurt in the accident, it’s still a good idea to report. This is because they may take steps to prevent other workers from getting hurt the same way.
Get Medical Advice
Even if you suspect that you haven’t sustained any major injuries, it’s still important to seek medical advice after an injury at work. If you need urgent care, go straight to the emergency room. A medical professional can tell you if you have any internal injuries that you might not have known about. Many on-site injuries are things like strains, sprains, or back injuries which are tougher to diagnose.
Update Your Employer
Make sure your employer is aware immediately if you sustain an injury at work. If you filed an accident report you’ll want to update it with any new medical results. It’s up to your employer to file a workers’ compensation claim for you, but it’s always a good idea to follow up. The quicker the better. Reports have shown that the faster claims are filed, the better it is for you.
Consult an Attorney
It’s always a good idea to consult an attorney after an injury at work. Especially one who is very familiar with workers’ compensation claims. You’re entitled to a copy of the claim that your employer files, so you should give them a copy to look over. They can consult you on the best way to go about the process of filing a claim. Going through the workers’ compensation claim process can be stressful and long, so having a seasoned professional by your side can be very helpful.
If you sustain an injury at work it can be overwhelming. Knowing what to do in the event that this should ever happen can help you prepare early and react quickly at the moment. The sooner you start the process of filing a workers’ compensation claim, the more success you’ll have. Make sure and fill out any accident reports early on. Seek medical advice immediately, and then report back to your employer. Finally, consult an attorney to make sure that your company is following up on your workers’ compensation claim. Hopefully, your injury won’t cause any long-term problems, and you’ll be able to get back to work quickly.