Workplace safety is essential, and employers generally take measures to prevent injuries. However, things can go wrong and cause injuries to an employee. When a workplace injury occurs, you need to react instantly. This blog post discusses the things to do immediately after the injury.
Get Medical Care
Rush to a nearby medical center and have a health professional examine your injury. The health professional should ideally be in a category that meets your workers' compensation insurance program. Your employer can provide more information about the compensation classification.
The doctor should receive full information about all your injuries. The information should include clear details on how you got the injuries. Once the doctor has noted everything down, they should give you all copies. You can also keep copies of other key documents, such as receipts.
Notify Management
Provide details about the incident and notify other coworkers. Some of the key details include the place of the accident and the type of injuries sustained. Management should also be aware of your medical care after the injury.
Informing management about the incident ensures that you can receive compensation from the insurer. Also, the company can use the information to protect other employees from the same hazard.
Request an Investigation
Your workplace injuries should attract compensation benefits. Nevertheless, the insurer can refuse to offer compensation if you do not provide sufficient evidence. Consequently, request a thorough investigation to get helpful proof for your claim.
Typically, the HR manager will investigate the matter. For example, the manager can schedule an inspection of the equipment to look for any defects. Also, the manager will review the CCTV footage to understand the course of events before the injury occurred. The investigator will take photographs of the area where the incident took place. They can also record statements from witnesses and other investigators.
File a Workers’ Compensation Claim
File a workers' compensation claim with the firm's insurance provider. This stage will involve constant communication between the insurance provider, the medical provider, your employer, and you. A claims adjuster will also reach out to you and conduct investigations. Effective communication can often result in quick compensation and the early provision of funds to cater for your medical care.
Some injured workers often make the mistake of settling the medical expenses with their own money. But be patient and wait for the funds from your workers' compensation claim.
File a Lawsuit
You may also decide to file a lawsuit against your employer and their workers' compensation provider. This action may become necessary if the provider rejects your claim or your employer fails to take responsibility for the injuries. If your lawsuit is successful, you will receive the necessary compensation and payment for the legal fees.
The best approach is to contact a personal injury lawyer to examine your lawsuit. The attorney will then prepare the evidence and take over the case. Also, the attorney will request all documentation, including your communication with the employer and insurance company.
Return to Work
Once you have fully recovered, you can opt to return to work. Your employer should have worked on the investigation report and implemented safety protocols. Also, the employer should train other team members to prevent a similar injury.
Get Help With Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
Workplace injuries can lead to costly medical expenses and affect your health. In some cases, the injuries can disrupt your life and cause disability. Fortunately, Palmetto Injury Lawyers LLC can help you file and win a workers’ compensation lawsuit in Myrtle Beach. Contact us today for legal services. We look forward to helping you.