After you’ve been injured on the job, there are steps you must take to ensure you can rightfully be compensated for the incident. As an employee, this is your right. But this isn’t an absolute for you to just sit on it. Right after being injured at your workplace, as soon as you’ve gotten your medical care, it’s also important for you to go through all the legal and documentary steps for your claims, with the help of a trusted San Diego workers compensation law firm.
This is an essential part of your recovery, so all you’ve got to do is focus on the physical recovery of your injuries and not have to worry about the payables. With that said, this article lists five steps you have to take, right after being injured from an accident at work.
1. Report The Injury Right Away
As soon as you’re able to, immediately file a written report of the injury to your human resources head or your immediate superior. By doing so, you can have an incident report of what happened. This is the best first course of action so you could get your employer notified of the workplace accident that happened to you.
As you write that report, be sure that you’re very clear and specific about every single detail that happened. Don’t leave any room for loopholes or errors. Be sure too that there’s proper receipt from your employer’s end so you have proof of sending that notice and when you did so. This’ll come in handy, just in case there may be a dispute relating to the accident report.
2. Get Medical Care
Even if you think you don’t need medical care because you only had minor injuries, it’s still advisable that you do so. Only through a medical professional’s expert advice will you be able to have an accurate determination of the extent of your injuries. Remember that not all injuries are immediately apparent as there are some that could also be internal.
Plus, another very important reason why medical care is important is that your doctor’s medical certification also constitutes proof of the expenses that you’ve incurred for your checkups and recovery. This includes but isn’t limited to the doctor’s fee, hospital bills, tests that you’ve undergone, and even the medication that you’re advised to take.
3. Record All Interactions You’ve Had With Your Company
After you’ve notified your company about the accident that happened to you while on the job, this is now the beginning of the many interactions and negotiations that you’re going to go through with them.
Among the many sit-downs with your employer, there’s also the employer’s insurance company and other representatives with whom you’d have to contend. Be sure that you have your own personal written record of all these interactions just so you remember when you’ve met them and for what purpose.
Again, this’ll come in handy just in case your employer disputes your claims when you make it to court. You need to have strong evidence that shows you haven’t been negligent with informing, submitting, and dealing with your employer’s representatives when it comes to matters related to your injury.
4. Keep Track Of All Your Expenses And Missed Work
Yes, your HR department will have a record of the days of work that you’ve missed because of the injury. But don’t depend on this solely. Keep your own record as well of your missed work just so you know you’re on the same page. Remember that you’re legally entitled to compensation for the economic losses you’ve encountered because of those missed days at work.
Along with keeping a record of your missed work, do have a running total of your expenses as well. This’ll make it easier for you to determine your claims and for you to double-check that the compensation you’re given is equal to what you’re entitled to receive.
5. Prove That Substances Weren’t Present During The Accident
This last tip is very important as it’s one of the very core exemptions when you, as an employee, won’t be entitled to any compensation for the workplace accident in which you were involved. Be sure that you’re also able to categorically prove that drugs or alcohol weren’t present during the accident.
Unfortunately for you, if you were intoxicated at the time of the accident, then you may not be eligible to receive compensation for the injuries caused by accident, as now you’ll be considered at fault. The point here is, whatever the circumstance, if you know truthfully and certainly that you weren’t at fault, then be sure that you’ll be able to prove and show this, in case of any disputes.
Conclusion
A workplace injury is always a devastating blow to you, your family, and especially to your dependents, if you’re the breadwinner. Not only are you going to suffer its physical effects, but you’ll also suffer emotionally, psychologically, and even financially. This is precisely why you’ve got to ensure you’re able to properly process all of your claims and documentation after your injury so you can be justly compensated. You never know when a workplace injury may happen, so it pays to be knowledgeable enough of the steps listed in this article.
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