The 3 Things You Should Do If You Are Hurt on the Job

Workplace injuries are fairly common in the United States. In fact, over 4 million injuries were reported in 2022, which led to an estimated loss of 167 billion dollars that year. These injuries can disrupt the lives of workers and their families.

Worker’s compensation law protects the rights of workers injured in the workplace by giving them a right to compensation for any medical costs they had to bear. Hiring a lawyer ensures that the injured worker’s rights are protected.

The workers’ compensation lawyers at TopDog Law will investigate the incident, negotiate with insurance providers, and represent you in court. The firm has offices across the US and is deeply invested in fighting for people “in their time of greatest need.” The founder, James Helm, is also pretty active on social media.

3 things to do if you’re hurt on the job

As workplace injuries are quite common in the United States, it’s crucial to understand what to do if you find yourself in such a situation. Here is a list of steps to follow if you’re injured at work:

Report the incident

The first thing you should do if you’re injured at work is report your injury to your employer. Your employer will ensure you get emergency medical treatment and report the injury to their insurance provider.

Some state laws require you to report your injuries to your employer within a certain time frame, or you may not be eligible for compensation. You may have to use a specific form to file a report, or in some states, an oral report may suffice.

You will also need to file a workers’ compensation claim form. To be eligible for workers’ compensation, you must be an employee, have workers’ insurance, and your injury must be work related. The injuries covered by this law are slips and falls that occur on-site, long-term injuries that result from repeated work-related activities like strain injuries, etc.

Get medical attention

Once the report has been filed, getting medical attention is crucial. Each state has its own set of laws on which doctor you can choose to treat your work-related injuries. In some states, you can see your own doctor for this, in other states, you’re required to visit a doctor that’s listed in the network designated for workers’ compensation.

In some states, you’re required to submit a request in writing to see your own doctor. Your doctor’s opinion has a huge impact on the benefits you receive through workers’ compensation. Your doctor will decide what kind of treatment you need, how much rest you need to get, and refer you to specialists if necessary.

So, you should ensure that you select a doctor who is willing to help you with your case and has the right specialization to deal with your type of injury.

Consult a lawyer

You should consider hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer if any of the following happens:

·         Your employer retaliates against your claim for compensation

·         You were seriously injured at work and cannot return to work

·         Your employer’s settlement doesn’t cover your medical bills

A competent lawyer will be able to help you file a workers’ compensation claim and also guide you through the process of building medical evidence to validate your claim. There are strict deadlines to file your workers’ compensation documents, so having a lawyer will ensure that the right documents are submitted.

A lawyer can also negotiate with insurance providers for you and ensure that you get fair compensation. They can also represent you in court if the out-of-court settlement negotiations fail. Most worker’ compensation lawyers charge a contingency fee, meaning there is no charge upfront, but only a portion of your winnings will be taken by your lawyers as fees.

Conclusion

Being injured at work can get pretty complicated. There are a lot of steps involved, and not being aware of what to do can land you in financial trouble. Hiring a competent lawyer ensures that your rights are protected and you don’t end up in debt due to your injuries.