Were you injured at work?
If you have recently sustained a work injury, you may be unsure what steps you should take. Should you file a workers’ compensation claim?
In most cases, yes, you should file a claim.
Common injuries per industry
Repetitive strain injuries are common in office jobs and technology service positions. Truck drivers and package delivers may be at risk of brain, spinal cord or other traumatic injuries that occur from car accidents. Construction workers and machine operators commonly face injuries due to falling objects.
After getting injured you may consider “toughing it out” meaning you will try to ignore the injury. This will only make the injury worse and more painful. There are steps you should take after a workplace injury to ensure your body heals properly.
5 steps to take after a workplace injury
If the injury happened at work or was caused by work-related duties, you will be able to file a workers’ compensation claim. Immediately after the injury happens, file a claim.
- Tell your employer that you were injured.
- Fill out the paperwork your employer gives you.
- Bring the medical records of your injury to your employer.
- Your employer will file the claim on your behalf. Simply make sure they do.
- The workers’ comp insurance company will accept or reject your claim.
This process may have bumps in the road that make it much more complex than outlined above. If your case becomes confusing, difficult or stressful, you may choose to hire an attorney to represent your case.
Should you hire an attorney?
An attorney can fight for your claim if it was initially denied by the insurance company. If your employer offers workers’ compensation and you have a qualifying injury, you are entitled to the benefits.
If your employer does offer have workers’ compensation, you may file a personal injury claim. In any case, it may be good to have a legal advocate on your side.