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In 2019, the US recorded a total of 5,333 deaths from work-related injuries. Accidents are inevitable, but the dynamics are quite different when it happens at the workplace. A workplace injury initiates a complex sequence of events that could get prolonged. For this reason, it helps to be mindful of the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours after the injury occurred. This period is crucial if you want to avoid delays in claims filing. If you’ve been involved in such an accident, then read further to discover the necessary steps to take.
1. File a report immediately
It doesn’t matter how the injury occurred or how minor the damage is. Filing a report with your employer or direct supervisor is a mandatory and accepted practice. Fundamentally, the report you file will serve as initial documentation that provides a credible background for any compensation claim. More so, it’ll be a crucial piece of paperwork should you decide to seek legal help concerning the injury sustained at work.
Most importantly, ensure that the paperwork you complete is shared across all relevant levels. For example, besides your supervisor, others to be in the know are the company’s injury management coordinator, your insurance carriers, etc. Furthermore, as the victim, it’s advisable to get at least one witness present when the injury occurred as they’ll corroborate your statement. In an event where there’s no witness, the responsibility rests with you to prove that the injury happened at work. This explains the need to file a report immediately.
2. Seek legal help
Understanding your legal rights and options at the workplace is the first step to being treated fairly. Your employer is mandated by law to provide a reasonably safe environment for workers. Sometimes, however, this is overlooked, ignored, or not reviewed continuously, increasing the chances of workplace injuries. Even in settings where all safety protocols have been observed, accidents can still happen, and victims have the right to take legal action.
This is even more critical in a workplace where the injury occurred because there were no pre-emptive mechanisms. If you’re a victim or know someone who is, it’s advisable to hire a reputable personal injury attorney. Finding experienced legal brains such as Whittel & Melton (Florida Personal Injury Attorneys) must be your focus as you seek to commence rightful litigation processes.
3. Get medical attention
Even though most workplace accidents result in productivity loss, a few can be fatal. Seeking immediate medical care for an injury (no matter how small it may look) can minimize risks and ultimately be lifesaving. Aside from that, it also establishes that the injury occurred within a specific period. Furthermore, it quells possible suspicions about how and where the accident could have happened.
Medical attention is also critical when you intend to build a legal case. Medical confirmation of an injury sustained from a workplace accident provides a specialist’s proof of bodily harm suffered by the worker. Indeed, some injuries are not visible, and until a Physician proves it, your injury claims could be doubted.
It’s even more beneficial if you’re attended to by a medical doctor experienced in evidence-based occupational healthcare. The guiding rule is never to underestimate the extent of damage that may have been caused by an accident suffered at the workplace.
These are the three significant steps to undertake in the event of a workplace accident that resulted in injuries. Across America, every state has a peculiar set of systems that deal with work-related injuries. Therefore, research what pertains to your state and work accordingly for your rightful compensation.
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