According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the private industry reported 2.8 million non-fatal injuries at the workplace in 2019. Accidents at the workplace can leave you distressed and confused. You have worries about your injuries and various other things related to your accident.
According to personal injury attorneys, you need to record the events before and after a workplace accident to get compensation. Here’s how you can claim compensation if you meet with workplace accidents and injuries.
Focus on the Injury
It is the most important thing to do. Your medical treatment will be substantial proof of your workplace accident and serve as a foundation to file a personal injury claim. Every workplace is required to have a first aid kit. Ask a colleague to get the first aid kit for you, or ask him to call the designated first aider.
The injuries may look minor at first sight. But without timely treatment, they could become significant health complications that might affect your working ability. Hence, make sure you get first aid after the accident.
Report the Accident at Work
Having a record of the accident will help in filing workplace accidents and injury claims. The employment status determines the reporting of the accident. For example, are you an employee, self-employed, or a worker? If you are unable to report the accident, ask someone to report the accident for you.
The accident should be recorded in the accident book maintained by the organization. When done, ask the manager to check it. If there is no accident book available, write an accident report on a paper mentioning the event’s details and send it to the manager. Keep one copy of the accident report for your record.
Seek Medical Care
After recording the accident, you should immediately see the doctor. Getting the right medical treatment is as crucial as reporting the accident. Keep a record of all medical treatment you receive after the accident.
Keep a Record of Expenses
The purpose of filing a personal injury claim is to get you all the financial help until you are ready to earn your livelihood. It would help if you recorded all medical bills, income loss, and other expenses related to the accident. If you lost a chance of earning a promotion or a bonus due to the accident, mention that in the record of expenses. It will help your attorney to calculate the maximum compensation you deserve.
Submit a Grievance
Reporting a workplace accident is not enough; you also need to submit a grievance to the employer mentioning hazardous conditions at the workplace. Make sure the grievance mentions the facts and conditions correctly as to where and when the accident happened.
Present Subject Access Request
The subject access request refers to information your employer has about you on the record. It could include all personnel and health-related information. It will help you in filing a workplace accident claim.
File a Personal Injury Claim
If you think it’s your client or employer’s fault, you need to file a personal injury claim. The process can be complicated and take a long time. Hence, it is always a good idea to take the legal advice of a workplace injury lawyer. If you are stil not sure about the next step to take, click here for more information.
The lawyer will negotiate with your employer and the insurance company. During negotiations, the insurance company is more likely to find ways to pay you a minimum so they can keep the profits. Also, the employer is more likely to get freed from the liability to avoid paying compensation. A good injury lawyer will ensure your rights are not violated.
To sum up, workplace accidents and injury claims are complicated. You need to follow the right procedure and need good legal advice and support to get maximum compensation.
