Often mishaps occur at places of employment which are physically demanding. Common injuries are back strain, a rolled ankle, or in some cases, more serious injuries which require hospitalization. Although workplace injuries may be common, however, that’s no reason not to fight for your legal rights.
Being injured can not only leave you unable to work immediately following the incident, but it can cause long-term physical injury which results in emotional damage. It’s crucial that if you’ve been injured on the job that you do the following.
Seek Medical Attention
The most important thing to remember is that your well-being comes first and foremost. Be sure to seek medical attention right away to get the proper care for your injuries.
Call an ambulance or make it to an emergency room if possible. Don’t let lack of insurance or inability to pay for your medical attention stop you from going. You can take legal action to pursue your employer paying for your medical care later. Leaving your injuries untreated is unwise and can lead to much more serious injury over time.
Alert Your Supervisor
Your supervisor should be alerted of your injury as soon as possible. By failing to make a formal report, you could be putting yourself at risk for adverse circumstances later. You will need all of the proof that you can get in order to be fairly compensated for your injury on the job.
Failing to alert management right away may look suspicious later on when you try to file a claim.
Make a Claim For Workers Compensation
After you report your injury to your supervisor, they will give you all of the necessary forms to fill out. At this point, typically your supervisor submits the paperwork to their insurance company as well as the state workers’ compensation agency.
Depending on which state you live in, it may be your responsibility to file the claim yourself. Be sure to verify how it works where you live and act accordingly.
Follow Doctors Orders
If you’ve sustained injuries which require you to rest and avoid putting any strain on your body, then you should follow your doctor’s orders. Failing to take your doctor seriously could result in serious issues down the road which could affect your ability ever to work again.
Even though you may have things to do around the house, or are anxious to get back on your feet again, it’s in your best interest to allow your body the time that it needs to heal.
Try To Find Work As Soon As Possible
As soon as your doctor says that you’ve rested for a reasonable amount of time, you should try to find suitable work as quickly as possible. You may want to consider changing careers if you’ve sustained an injury which affects your ability to work a physical job.
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