Did you know that in the United States, more than 5,300 workers passed away on the job in 2019?
Workplace injuries and deaths may seem far from you, but there is always a chance of getting hurt at work.
If you’ve recently had a workplace injury, there are several things you should know. Continue reading to discover the steps you should take following one!
Get Assistance
If you’ve suffered from a workplace injury, the first step to take is getting assistance.
Ask people who are around to help out and if you are alone, call emergency services for help. Calling an ambulance is a good idea if the injury is severe. Don’t risk putting someone in a vehicle after they’ve been injured badly.
On the scene, some of your medical needs should be attended to. If you are bleeding, make sure it gets bandaged up well and try to control it.
Head to the Doctor
Once you’ve had the chance to pull yourself together, you’ll need to head to the doctor’s office for a checkup.
This is an important step that will require documentation and notes from the doctor. This is where you should be treated for your conditions and given diagnoses if there are any.
Urgent care or hospitals may be necessary if the injury is severe enough. For minor things, try to see a doctor immediately. The sooner that a doctor can see you, the sooner you’ll be relieved from pain.
Give all of the details about the injury to the doctor. The more information that they receive, the better they’ll be able to assist you.
Don’t leave out even minor symptoms that you’re feeling. Initially, after the injury, you may feel okay, but this could easily change.
Ask Questions
While you’re at the doctor’s office or hospital, make sure that you ask a lot of questions.
Understanding your injury is key to recovery. Many people recommend asking about limitations with the injury and if they need to take any time off of work. If the doctor agrees that you need a leave of absence, make sure that this is clearly documented.
It is also important that you ask questions about your job and how to proceed. Make sure you understand the process of leave and get the proper documentation.
Speak With Your Company
Once you’ve had the chance to get your injury looked at by a professional, it’s time to talk to your company.
Reach out to your supervisor to let them know what’s going on and how you’re doing. The supervisor may ask you a few questions about the injury to take note of for incident reports. During this conversation, you may also be given the next steps to follow.
Waiting too long to talk to the company can cause confusion and worry. Once you’re feeling up to it, make the call and get things started with them. Your supervisor will be able to walk you through all of the steps legally.
One way to help out the company is by expressing concerns about safety in the workplace. If you suffered an injury due to equipment or lack of safety in the office, be sure to address this. The supervisor can then make any immediate changes to keep others out of harm’s way.
File an Incident Report
If an incident report hasn’t been completed yet, it’s time to get one done.
Most companies have a deadline for filing these and you should try to get it done as soon as possible. The closer you file this to the injury, the easier it’ll be to recall information.
Depending on the state where the injury occurred, you may have a couple of days to complete your incident report. Even a slip and fall needs to be fully documented.
Hire a Lawyer
If you are considering hiring a workers comp attorney, there are a few things to know.
Many people recommend getting an attorney if you’ve suffered from severe injury and need to take time off of work. Lawyers will be able to help navigate you through the legal process and make sure you receive the assistance that you need.
Finding the best personal injury lawyer can seem overwhelming. By talking with various people, you can get a better understanding of how they work and how they’ll help.
Document Everything
A lawyer will help keep documentation in order, but it’s still important to document everything yourself.
Not only should you be documenting the details of the legal process, but also your recovery. If you’re still experiencing pain or have issues with daily activities, be sure to document it.
The lawyer can use this information to ensure that you still receive assistance. Another reason to document symptoms is so that you can be properly treated in a medical office. As mentioned already, the more information that you give the doctor, the more they can help!
Did You Suffer From a Workplace Injury?
Navigating the steps of a workplace injury can be overwhelming.
With the help of this guide, you can quickly get on the path to recovery and know that your job is still secure.
The very first step in any injury is to address it and get help immediately. Once the injury has been cared for, work with your company to get the rest started. An incident report will need to be filed with all of the details and you can get help from an attorney if you need time off.
Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about how to hire a lawyer and other legal processes!
