What Are My Options After Getting Hurt On the Job?
No one enjoys the pain that comes with an injury. But what if you get hurt while carrying out your work duties? What are your options?
Getting hurt at your workplace can be such a traumatic experience. The pain itself weighs heavily on your body. Your productivity level goes down, reducing your wage hours. That’s if you are lucky enough to make it to work. Others may even lose their ability to work completely.
The law requires that your employer ensures there is a safe working environment for you and your colleagues. If they do not that, you are entitled to monetary compensation. The negligence theory is used in your favor in this case.
For employees who have insurance coverage, the compensation will be handled by your insurance company. You can’t receive compensation both from your employer and the insurance company.
When you get hurt at work, make sure you do the following:
Get medical treatment
Immediately when you are injured at work, get medical treatment right away. Ensure you are attended to by an approved health care provider. If not, you risk jeopardizing your compensation claims later. Either your employer or insurance company may give you a list of doctors to seek medical help from in the event of an accident at work.
Report the injury
Do not assume that your employer already knows about your injury just because they took you to the hospital. Notify them of your injury in writing to initiate the compensation claims process. Your supervisor may also create an accident report and give you a copy.
Keep notes of significant contacts
Have a list of important people you were in contact with during the occurrence of your accident. These may be people such as your supervisor or company representatives, among others. They help boost the strength of your worker’s compensation claim.
Follow medical directions
If you deviate from the medical directions given, you reduce the possibility of being compensated after getting hurt at work. It may be argued that you purposely chose to be sick in order not to report to work.
Fill out the worker’s compensation form
All the steps taken above are meant to ensure that you will receive your compensation. If you were genuinely hurt at work and you weren’t under the influence of any drugs, chances of you getting compensated are always high. Fill out this form and submit it to the relevant office. Continue following the doctor’s directions and attend any hearing related to your compensation when notified.
The actions taken after you get hurt at work determine whether you will be compensated or not. Take the right path so as not to lose your right to compensation.
- Posted on: May 15 2018