Most people go through their lives never once considering that they could get hurt on the job. However, it happens to roughly 3.8 million Americans each year. What would you do if you were hurt in an accident at work?
If you’re unsure, don’t panic. Those 3.8 million workers are probably in the same boat. You will need to hire a personal injury attorney or a workers compensation attorney who is experienced in the field of workers compensation law to help you out with your case. Even if you work at a relatively safe job, it never hurts to know what your rights are in this kind of situation and having a reliable personal injury lawyer or workplace injury lawyer is crucial when push comes to shove. Here’s a collection of articles on what to do after an accident at work.
File a Report
According to the Mike Morse Injury Law Firm, the number one mistake most employees make is saying, “I’m fine,” and neglecting to file an accident report. If you do consult a personal injury attorney at some point, they’ll probably point out how that may have been a mistake. This is because while you might feel okay at first, you could find painful symptoms from your injury showing up weeks or even months later. Additionally, there’s often an incredibly short timeframe for employees to fill this form out, which would allow them to seek worker’s compensation down the road. Whether you think you’re injured or not, you should file a report to ensure you’re covered. Also, hiring a personal injury attorney will help you should your company refuse to cover the expenses.
See Your Doctor
It isn’t uncommon to not notice an injury at first, but any personal injury attorney will tell you that most accidents comes with delayed symptoms. What might seem like a simple fall could lead to head, muscle, or even bone injuries that simply aren’t noticeable for a short time.
You should visit your primary care physician for a workers compensation treatment as soon as possible after your accident. This is also a way to determine if there are any underlying symptoms. There are a few instances where you might need to visit whitesands rehab for healing. In some cases, your employer might ask you to see a specific doctor. However, you’re well within your right to get a second opinion if you feel that you need to.
If one or both visits rule out any injuries, then there’s nothing to worry about. If a car accident doctor does discover that your accident directly caused an injury, however, then there are a few more steps to take. If you or a loved one is left to deal with the consequences of injury due to fire explosion, you need someone experienced and capable of taking legal action on your behalf.
Filing for Compensation
Your employer must file a workers compensation claim through their insurance company on your behalf, should you have an injury. It is your responsibility to let them know that a doctor has deemed you injured and that this is the course of action you wish to take.
It’s also essential to follow up with the claim, ensuring your employer filed it like they were supposed to it. Your workers comp lawyer would advise that you’re also entitled to a copy of the claim, which you should hold for your records. You might need a copy in the event that this claim goes to court and you decide to consult other personal injury lawyers.
Lawsuits and Barred Claims
According to a lawyer like the Nashville Injury Lawyer, the majority of states forbid you from filing an additional lawsuit outside of worker’s compensation over an injury. That might seem like the law is slighting you, but an ADA defense attorney in California says that this rule works in your favor. Should the claim go to trial together with a workers compensation lawyer, it’s much easier to win a case in worker’s compensation law because you do not have to prove employer negligence. Instead, you only have to show you were hurt at work. If you need help from a private investigator to help you out with your claims, check here.
The exception to that rule is when drugs, alcohol, or asbestos are involved. You can file an additional lawsuit if you suffer from an asbestos-related illness. However, you cannot seek compensation even under worker’s comp if you were intoxicated at the time of the accident. Your employer will most likely administer a drug test immediately after your accident. To make sure that it does not happen again, talk to your employer about investing in rubber protective gear. Your company can order industrial rubber products from California Industrial Rubber Co.
