What To Do When You Have Been Injured On The Job:

Accidents can happen anywhere-home, the street, even at work. Hopefully you'll never have to deal with this but, if you are ever injured on the job, there are several important things you need to do to make sure you are eligible to receive benefits and compensation for your injuries.

Always Report the Injury

If you are injured at work, you must remember to notify your supervisor immediately. Be sure to report exactly what happened and where you have been injured so that the incident will be properly documented and kept on file. If your supervisor does not offer it to you, remember to request an “Employee’s Claim for Workers Compensation Benefits” form. Processing this form accurately right away can help avoid any delay in the benefits to which you are entitled. Upon completion of the form, submit a copy to your supervisor and keep a copy for your own records as well.

When reporting the incident to your supervisor, he or she will also need to know if you need or intend to seek medical attention for your injuries. As one of your new hire forms when you began your job, you likely will have completed a Personal Physician Pre-Designation form in the event of a work-related injury. If so, you will need to see the physician you have designated. If not, you must request to be sent to a treating doctor. In either instance, it is critical to seek care within 24 hours of filing your claim.

Seek Medical Attention

Seeking medical attention is imperative in order to secure Workers Compensation benefits. Not only are doctors’ reports necessary in order to process your claim, but even if you think your injuries are not serious, it is best to be thoroughly examined by a medical professional. Your injuries may end up being more severe than you realize. Make sure you give your attending doctor an accurate description of what happened and where you may have been injured. In addition to your initial visit, be sure to keep all scheduled appointments and maintain receipts and documentation of each visit.

Because you may be entitled to all expenses related to your injury, you will also want to keep records of any prescription costs, mileage to and from your appointments, and the amount of time you are losing from work.

For more information on what to do if you are injured on the job, contact a personal injury lawyer.