Do you know what you’re supposed to do if you’re injured on the job? The majority of businesses have specific programs to deal with work-related injuries. All efforts and practices aimed at making your workplace safe are important for both employees and employers. However, accidents still happen. If one happens to you and your employer denies you medical treatment or benefits for any missed time, then you need to know your rights and how to handle the situation.
May even be the case that you don’t require immediate medical attention, but it becomes clear later on that an incident has left you injured. During this time, it may seem like the best idea to wait and determine what the best approach is later. This means that sometimes the incident doesn’t get reported. If you don’t report, your employer has the chance to deny you the medical treatment you need.
It’s simple: if you’re hurt at work then you’re probably entitled to workers’ compensation. The following is a breakdown of the steps you should take to ensure you protect your legal rights.
Make an Accident Report
It’s important to report your accident or long-term injury as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more problems you could run into. There are many states that have only a short timeframe in which you must report an injury in order to receive coverage under workers’ compensation.
Whether you believe you’ve been injured or not, your report can lead to your employer implementing new safety policies that can prevent any injury from happening to you or a coworker in the future.
Read Your State’s Workers’ Comp Laws
Check the laws pertaining to workers’ compensation in your state. Every state, except for Texas, requires the majority of employers to obtain workers’ compensation insurance. These laws also frequently state that employees can’t sue their employers over injuries acquired at the job. In many cases, workers’ compensation states that the employee injured doesn’t need to prove negligence to receive benefits. In fact, the employee’s own negligence could have caused the accident, and they can still be compensated.
There are still some instances where the injuries won’t be covered. If the employee was under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident, the employee won’t receive compensation. This is why employers sometimes implement drug tests for those involved in workplace accidents.
See A Doctor
After you’ve been hurt, you should see a doctor as soon as you possibly can. If the injury calls for it, you should make your way to the emergency room. If the accident wasn’t as severe as needing to attend the emergency room, then ask your employer if there’s a specific doctor you need to see or if you can choose the doctor you visit.
If your employer recommends a doctor and you’re not satisfied with the results, you may be able to get a second opinion from a doctor of your choosing. Be sure, the laws allow you to pursue a second opinion. Even if it doesn’t cover the second visit, you may want to still go to another doctor and pay for it yourself. Depending on the severity of your injuries, it could definitely benefit you to get an evaluation from a different doctor despite the money out of your own pocket. If you have health insurance, your second doctor’s visit could be covered.
See A Workers Compensation Lawyer
When you’re injured, it’s completely up to your employer to file the claim their workers’ compensation insurance company on your behalf. They won’t do it until you inform them that you’re injured. If you’ve been in an accident and aren’t immediately sure if you are hurt, then inform the relevant people as soon as you’ve discovered the injury. Be sure to follow up on the claim, make sure it’s filed, and seek the compensation you deserve.
If you run into the slightest bit of trouble or reluctance, you may want to get in touch with an experienced attorney. Initial consultations are typically free, and the attorney can help you determine what benefits you may be entitled to receive.
