Steps To Take When You Have Been Injured At Work
It does not matter what industry you work in – there is always a chance that you can injure yourself at work. The first 24 hours after you injure yourself are crucial – your actions can determine how easy it will be to claim your workers’ compensation benefits and how strong of a claim you have. By taking the appropriate actions after a workplace injury, you can help make your worker’s compensation process a little bit easier. The following is important advice from a workers’ compensation lawyer.
Get Medical Help
The first thing you should do after you are injured at work is obtain necessary medical attention, though where you get it from can be important. If your employer has a Preferred Provider Program (PPP), you should choose a doctor or hospital that is a part of that program. If you choose not to be seen by physicians in your employer’s PPP, you can be seen by one physician of your choice, but further visits must be approved.
Tell Your Doctor Your Injury Was Sustained at Work
You should tell your doctor that the reason you are seeing them is that you sustained an injury at work. By doing this, your medical bills will be sent directly to your employer instead of you and decrease the chances that your workers’ compensation claim is denied. You should also make sure that your medical notes specify that your injury was a work injury.
Report Your Injury
You should report your injury to your supervisor or employer as soon as possible. Make sure you report the incident according to any protocol your employer has in place, however, no matter what those rules are, it is also a good idea to make your notification via email so you have an electronic record.
Every state has different rules on how long an injured worker has to report the injury in order to protect their right to benefits, so it is a good idea to consult with a workers’ compensation attorney to make sure you are protected.
Make Sure Your Employer Submits a Report
All employers are required to submit an accident report to the state’s workers’ compensation commission after you have told them about your injury. Your report will include your personal information, what you were doing at the time of the accident and how it occurred, the injury that resulted, and how and when you were first treated for the injury. Make sure you ask for a copy of the report and keep it in your records.
Keep Track of Your Records
One of the most important things that you can do is to keep track of all of your pertinent records for your claim. You should keep all records of your doctor’s visits and any receipts for out-of-pocket medical care costs or supplies. It is also a good idea to keep a journal of your recovery process and the things you are doing to get better.
Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm Today
Under state law, work injuries are almost always covered under your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. If your employer does not want to pay out your compensation benefits, or you have difficulty obtaining those benefits, you should immediately contact an experienced attorney, like a New Jersey workers compensation attorney from a firm like Rispoli & Borneo, P.C.