Injuries at work are common. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that approximately 10% of employees will suffer a workplace injury each year. These injuries can be physical or emotional, and they can have a significant impact on your life, both now and in the future. Contact Idaho Personal Injury Lawyers for legal advice and representation to maximize your compensation claim.
There are a few essential steps that should always come first when dealing with an injury at work. They include to:
- Seek medical attention,
- Keep track of all expenses related to the accident and
- Speak with a qualified attorney.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Sometimes injuries can appear to be minor at first but worsen over time. If you fail to seek medical attention for a work-related injury and it becomes worse, later on, the insurance company or employer might deny your claim.
Your doctor will provide professional advice regarding your situation and determine how severe the injuries are. They need to know everything so they can treat you accordingly.
Keep Track Of Your Medical Expenditures.
If you incur any unexpected costs because of the injury, be sure to keep all receipts and paperwork related to them so that they can be reimbursed in a settlement or trial. Be proactive about this one. It’s easy for these bills to slip through the cracks when you’re too busy getting better.
The last thing you want to do is suffer for weeks or months because your insurance company forgot about the bills that piled up while you were away from work.
Document Everything
Document all of your injuries and keep track of any medical appointments or procedures that need to be done on your behalf by the company’s insurance provider.
Take pictures of your injuries. Make sure they show how bad your injuries genuinely are and keep them on file for later use in court proceedings. They may also help with an insurance claim.
It’s also a good idea to write down what you were doing when the injury occurred. This information can be necessary if there is any question about whether or not your employer was responsible for the accident.
Don’t Rush To Judgment.
Contact your employer’s human resources department if you are injured at work, even if it seems minor at first glance. Often these injuries will worsen over time and become much more severe than they initially appeared.
If you cannot contact your employer, call your insurance company or find another resource that can help you. If your employer does not report the injury, your compensation claim may be denied.
Seek Legal Counsel
If your injury is severe, you might want to consider speaking with an attorney about whether or not filing a workers’ compensation claim is the right option for you. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help guide you through this complex process and ensure that all of your rights are protected every step of the way. You may have some questions about the injury and your rights that only an attorney can answer for sure.
The best thing you can do for yourself after suffering an injury at work is to seek medical attention, keep track of all expenses related to the accident and speak with a qualified attorney. Take these steps as soon as possible so that your claim remains valid by law. If you wait too long, there may be consequences down the line!
