In any job, there are always hazards. A loose wire, faulty handrails or a slippery bathroom floor could all land you on the floor, in a considerable amount of pain. While employers do their best to ensure safe working conditions, about 3 million non-fatal private industry workplace injuries were recorded in 2012 alone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the highest rates of injury coming from nursing and residential care facilities, and construction sites.
Regardless of your profession, if you get hurt at work, you must take action as soon as possible, and research your company’s policy on workers compensation. This policy will entitle you to a certain sum of money to cover any medical expenses that result from getting hurt on the job. Here are 3 things you should do as soon as you sustain a workplace injury.
- Get yourself out of the situation if possible, and contact your supervisor. Even if you are unable to go to your supervisor yourself because of your injury, ask someone to send for them. By reporting the incident workers compensation claim immediately, you can avoid having to deal with a statute of limitations on your filing. Depending on the state you live in, there are different limits placed on the amount of time that can lapse before you get your claim filed. If this time period passes, you may not be eligible for workers compensation, or you might have to elicit help from workers compensation lawyers.
- Do not forget to write everything down. The moment you get hurt at work, you will want to record what happened in writing, and photos, if possible. As time goes by, the details could become more hazy, which could hurt your claim if you are unable to remember the specifics. If you are able to get clear pictures of your injury and present exactly what happened, you have a better chance at securing proper compensation.
- Get the medical treatment you need, as soon as you can. Just like whiplash does not always set in until the days following a car accident, you may not feel the full effect of your fall or injury until a few days later. But this does not mean that you should not seek medical attention right after your accident, and this includes any pain and suffering that could have caused emotional or psychological damage. Getting the right treatment is critical to regaining your health.
No one wants to get hurt at work, but accidents do happen. By being proactive, seeking appropriate medical attention, and consulting a lawyer, if necessary, you can be on your way to feeling healthy again, and get the compensation you deserve. Links like this: www.azhurtonthejob.com
