I Got Injured on the Job – Now What? Part 1
One day, you went into work. It started out like any other day, except that you got injured on the job. Maybe you work at a construction site and a piece of equipment fell on you and hurt you, or you slipped and fell on a wet spot in your office’s hallway, or you hurt yourself lifting something at work.
No matter what type of injury you sustained, whether it’s minor or serious, you have the right to pursue a workers’ compensation claim. If your claim is successful, you will be given benefits like:
- Coverage of your medical bills – current and future
- Permanent partial or total disability benefits
- Temporary partial disability benefits
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits
The benefits you receive will depend upon the extent of your injuries as well as whether you, or your representative (e.g.: attorney) are successful in pursuing certain aspects of your claim for benefits.
If you got injured on the job, here’s what you should do immediately:
Contact Your Supervisor
As soon as you can after your injury, tell your supervisor what happened. Try to avoid giving a full written or recorded statement until you have talked with an attorney. If an accident report is prepared, make sure you request a copy so that you have it for your records. You should do this as quickly as possible.
Additionally, even if you have a minor injury, a record of your injury will protect you should your injuries or conditions worsen over time. You never know how your injury will manifest itself down the line, and you want to be prepared.
Seek Out Medical Attention
You’ll need to see a doctor immediately after your accident, even if you don’t think your injury or symptoms are that serious. Be sure to tell the physician(s) about all your injuries and symptoms so that they can be sure to properly diagnose your condition and commence an appropriate treatment plan. You should always follow your doctor’s advice so that you can demonstrate that you took your treatment plan seriously and did everything you could to get better – with the goal of trying to return to work as soon as possible.
