Getting injured at work is a traumatic and stressful event that can even change your entire life. Not only do you have to worry about recovering from the injury, but you have to also worry about your job status.
While your first focus should be on your physical and emotional recovery, the steps you take immediately after getting hurt can make all the difference in how smoothly things go from there. It’s important to handle everything the right way so HKM employment lawyers can help and you don’t run into problems later on. In this article, we will go over several steps to take after a work injury.
1 – Immediate Steps
The first few moments after you’ve been hurt at work are incredibly important, and what you do can shape how everything plays out. Your immediate focus should be on getting to a safe place. If you’re in a risky spot, move away from any hazards if you can.
Once you’re safe, the next thing you need to do is let your employer know what’s happened. It doesn’t matter if the injury seems small or more serious since any accident or injury needs to be reported and documented.
After reporting the injury, it’s time to focus on getting medical care. If it’s something serious, get to the emergency room or urgent care immediately. For less severe injuries, you might need to see a doctor approved by your workplace.
A medical professional can provide documentation, which could be crucial if you need to file a workers’ compensation claim or if your condition changes later.
2 – Document Everything
After getting hurt at work, keeping track of everything is the most important thing you can do. Good documentation can be your strongest evidence if any questions come up later about what happened, or if you need to make a claim for workers’ compensation.
Note the time, place, and exactly how the injury occurred. If anyone else was around, get their names and contact details. These little bits of information might seem minor now, but they can make a big difference later on.
Pay close attention to any deadlines for filing claims. Employers and insurance companies usually have strict timelines for reporting injuries and filing claims, so make sure you know what those are and stick to them.
3 – Know Your Rights
Knowing your rights after a workplace injury is just as important as taking care of your physical health. While focusing on your recovery is important, being informed about workers’ compensation and your legal protections can make a big difference in how things turn out.
For instance, you should be eligible for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is there to help cover your medical bills, rehabilitation, and a portion of your lost wages if you’re unable to work because of your injury.
Besides workers’ compensation, you have the right to be treated fairly at work, even after an injury. Your employer isn’t allowed to retaliate against you for reporting your injury or filing a claim.