Different personal injury types will involve very different steps and requirements from victims as they attempt to receive compensation for injuries or damages, and a great example here is anyone who sustains an injury in the workplace. Those in such situations are often highly stressed – not only do they have to think about their injury and its impact, they also may be concerned about their job or the prospect of filing an injury claim with their employer.
At the offices of William Rawlings & Associates, we’re here to help. Our personal injury attorneys handle a wide variety of case types, including assisting those involved in workplace injuries or accidents. In this two-part blog, we’ll go over a number of steps you should take after such an incident, from ensuring your own health and safety to taking the proper steps in case a liability claim comes out of the injury.
First and foremost, both for your own well-being and to potentially bolster a liability case later on (if applicable), you should seek immediate medical attention after a workplace accident, particularly for any serious injuries. If anyone in the facility is certified in First Aid, they can aid in this process until other medical staff arrive. All workplaces must keep a First Aid kit present.
If you’re not sure about the severity of your injuries, do not hesitate to seek further attention. Attend an urgent care center or emergency room as soon as possible.
Within reason after seeking proper medical attention, notify your supervisor or a member of company HR that you’ve sustained a workplace injury. Know that at this point, they are licensed to file a report with the OSHA. It is illegal to fail to report a workplace injury to your employer. If your employer has an accident book, common in many workplaces, it must be updated – if not, you may have a claim to file against management.
In addition, you should inform colleagues of the accident. This is especially important if there are no witnesses of the incident itself – making your situation clear is important if the employer wants to open an investigation or you choose to file a worker’s compensation claim.
Record and collect all possible evidence of the incident, including photos or videos if possible. If witnesses were present, ensure you speak to them and record statements. This will be valuable if you choose to file a claim later on.
Before leaving the office, ask a trusted colleague to keep you updated moving forward. This may relate to areas like changes to work policies, removal of dangerous equipment or other impacts related to your accident.
Either at this point or well before it, you should contact one of our personal injury lawyers if you’re considering filing a worker’s compensation claim. We’ll walk you through the vital factors involved and whether you have the requisite needs for a claim.
For more on how to respond after suffering a workplace injury, or to learn about any of our personal injury or auto accident injury services, speak to the staff at the offices of William Rawlings & Associates today.