When you suffer an
injury at work because of the negligence of your employer, you don’t have to
face it alone. Your physical, emotional and mental problems stemming from a
personal injury may warrant a legal case. But how do you know what to do after
you get hurt at work? Learn more about personal injury rights and procedures
below.
What to Do
After a Work Accident
Immediately
following a work accident, you should officially notify your employer. If the
company is big enough, HR may not have witnessed the accident. They will need
to know details such as what task you were performing at the time, who
witnessed the accident, what symptoms you have, and if you were able to go
right back to work or not. Failure to immediately report a work accident may be
counted against you if you ever need to take the matter to court.
Next, you need to
file a claim with your state’s worker’s compensation department. This
officially notifies your employer and their insurance company of your situation
and helps you protect your rights.
Worker’s
Compensation Rights
But what are your
rights when it comes to a work injury? Of course, every state is different. But
in general, you can expect the rights to file a claim, seek medical treatment,
return to your job if you’re cleared by a doctor, seek disability compensation
if you can’t return to work, and find a lawyer for representation. If at any
point you disagree with a decision made by your job, their insurance company,
or the worker’s compensation court, you also have the right to appeal it.
In addition to these
rights, you also have the right to refuse suggestions from your work. For
example, they may suggest that you use your own insurance for medical treatment
instead of theirs. You can say no to that without fear of repercussions. In
some cases, you may feel harassed by your boss or supervisor because you filed
a worker’s compensation claim against their company. Under workers’
compensation law, you are protected from this harassment, as well.
Seek a
Lawyer’s Help
If you run into
problems during your personal injury situation, immediately seek help from a
lawyer. Many lawyers are well-versed in personal injury law, and can help you
seek damages incurred by the actions of your employer or their insurance
company. You never have to feel bullied or be treated unfairly by an employer
without seeking justice.
If you are injured
at work, you must understand and defend your rights to prevent being taken
advantage of by an employer. Do your research so you can get the compensation you
deserve.
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