Have You Suffered An Injury In A Work Accident? Here Are Some Useful Tips
Accidents can happen anywhere, even in the workplace. Whether you work in a safe or a dangerous environment, you can still get injured. You can trip and fall, strain your muscles, inhale toxic gas, or crash into something. Most workplace accidents are the result of someone’s negligence and can be easily avoided. Some injuries can be so serious as to cause disability. Whether your injuries are serious or not, you are still a victim of negligence, and you deserve to be compensated. If you suffer a work accident, there are certain things that you need to do in order to protect your rights, so keep reading for some useful tips.
Seek Medical Help
The first thing that you should do after you get in a workplace accident is to seek medical help. Even if you don’t feel any pain or see any injuries, you should still see a doctor because some injuries take a while to manifest. If your injuries are serious, you should have a co-worker accompany you to the hospital. Make sure to tell your doctor about everything you feel so they can assess your injuries properly. Additionally, you will need a medical report if you are going to file a compensation claim. That being said, you should first focus on getting better then you can start taking the necessary steps to file a claim.
Hire A Lawyer
Hiring a lawyer may be the most important step that you should take after a workplace injury. There are a few things that you will need to take care of like handling the insurance company, filing a claim, and collecting evidence, among many other things. It will be hard to focus on all of these things while you are lying in a hospital bed, focusing on your recovery. As a matter of fact, according to the Raleigh worker’s compensation lawyer, a workplace injury can have serious consequences on your physical and mental health and on your finances so it is normal to be overwhelmed. A lawyer will ease your mind by taking care of everything for you while you are resting and focusing on getting better. Additionally, a specialized lawyer will know how to handle the insurance adjuster, value your injuries, and collect the necessary evidence to get you the compensation that you deserve.
Report The Accident
Reporting a workplace accident is essential. If your injuries are so serious that you are unable to report the incident yourself, then you should have a co-worker report it on your behalf. You will need an official report of the accident if you plan to file a claim against your employer since they failed to keep the workplace safe which resulted in your injuries. You should know that reporting the accident will prove that it took place at work, so neither your employer nor their insurance company can deny the claim. Additionally, you should make your colleagues aware of your injury just in case your employer denies any wrongdoing. Even if you aren’t going to file a compensation claim, it is your moral obligation to let your colleagues know what happened so they won’t get injured the same way.
Keep Records Of Your Losses
A workplace injury will definitely affect you physically and financially, and filing a claim is supposed to compensate you for all your losses. These losses may include your monthly salary, bonuses, and even a promotion. Additionally, you should keep all of your medical bills and receipts related to your injuries. All of these records will serve as proof of all your losses and expenses which will help your lawyer with your compensation claim.
Collect Evidence
Your employer may try and dispute your injuries, so collecting evidence of the incident will make it hard for them to do that. You should take photos of your injuries, the scene of the accident, and if there is a security camera, try and get a copy of the video as well. Proving the extent of your injury and that it took place at work will make it hard for your employer to deny any wrongdoing.
Work accidents happen, and you have limited control over them. However, you can control what happens next in order to be compensated for your injury. The first thing that you should do is tend to your injuries. Afterward, you should report the accident to your employer and colleagues, consult a lawyer, collect evidence, and make sure to keep records of all your expenses. These steps will help you fight for your rights and recover all of your losses.
