What to do After a Workplace Injury?
August 28, 2022 Posted In Work-related injury
Getting into an accident while on the job is a terrible situation. As frustrating as it may seem, there are still some things you’ll want to do to not only keep yourself safe, but to make sure you get the compensation you deserve for your accident. Here are 6 steps you should take after you are injured in a workplace accident.
Step 1: Make Sure You Are Safe
The very first thing you should do after any injury is make sure that you are out of the way of further harm. If you feel that you are too injured to move or need help, then it’s a good idea to call for medical assistance, but the important thing is to make sure that you are not injured any further by the same conditions that caused your accident or any others.
Step 2: Report the Accident to the Proper Authorities
If you are in an accident at the workplace, you need to begin the process of reporting it as soon as it happens. You’ll want to make sure you inform the person in charge, a supervisor or foreman, and then begin the process of figuring out how you will get compensation. In most cases this may mean filing a workers compensation claim, but depending on the nature of the accident, you may need to take other steps.
Step 3: Get Medical Attention and Document Your Injuries
Once you have reported the accident, if you haven’t already, it’s time to go to the doctor or the ER and have your injuries looked at by a professional. This serves two purposes. One is to know just how badly you are injured and to get the necessary treatment, and the second is to make sure that your injuries are properly documented by a professional.
It’s also a good idea to remember that not all injuries surface immediately after an accident. If, within a few days of the accident, you start to notice new symptoms, it’s time to go back to the doctor for more treatment and further documentation.
Step 4: Gather Information
If possible it is always a good idea to gather any information you can about an accident, even one at the workplace. If you notice a pattern of accidents, you may have more than just a simple workers compensation claim. If it is proven that your accident was caused by a third party or by some form of gross negligence, you will likely have a personal injury case.
Step 5: File a Claim
Once you have gathered all the information you are able to and seen to your injuries, it’s time to file your claim. It’s important to do this as quickly as possible as you may be on a time limit as far as how long you have to file your claim to get compensation. Once you do, the legal process has begun so be prepared.
Step 6: Retain a Lawyer and Don’t Talk to Anyone
Once you file a claim it is time to get yourself legal representation. Not only will you need to be prepared for a legal battle that is upcoming, you will likely be approached by people trying to offer you a settlement. Never take a settlement out of court unless you are advised to do so. Only a San Bernardino work injury attorney can tell you what your claim is truly worth and fight for you to get you that amount of compensation.