There are many injuries that could occur on the job. These could include slip and falls, trip and falls, falling object incidents, forklift incidents, auto collisions, machinery incidents, and more. When incidents occur on the job, injured employees may have the right to file a workers compensation claim.
Workers compensation is an insurance that covers employees in the case of workplace accidents. After incidents, injured employees can apply for workers compensation and receive benefits, which may include partial pay, disability pay, and more.
If you were injured in a workplace accident, you may have many questions about what you should do next. Below, we will review what you should do after a workplace injury to ensure that you can pursue a workers comp claim when you are ready to do so.
What Should I Do after an Injury at Work?
Consider the following recommendations:
- Seek medical care immediately
- For severe injuries, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room
- For non-emergency injuries, make sure to follow your employer’s policy regarding workplace incidents (including visiting an approved provider
- Inform the medical professionals that the injury is work-related
- Gather all records associated with this first medical visit and with any other follow-up medical evaluations
- Report the incident and the injury to your employer
- Immediately notify your employer in writing (you may need to go through the manager or supervisor)
- Note: California labor law requires employees to report workplace injuries within 30 days. However, employees should always report incidents as quickly as possible.
- Document the incident
- Take photos of the area where the incident happened, including any hazardous condition that resulting in the incident
- Take photos of visible injuries
- Write down the details of the incident, including the exact date and time of the incident, the location of the incident, and how the incident happened
- Take note of any witnesses to the incident
- File the workers’ compensation claim
- Request the appropriate forms from your employer to file your your claim
- Fill in the forms and submit them
- Make sure that you submit all forms within the appropriate timeframe
- Follow all medical advice given by professionals
- Ensure that you are following all treatment plans (including taking medication as prescribed, going to physical therapy, etc.)
- Do not engage in any activity that could worsen your condition
- Keep all relevant medical records
- Keep records associated with the costs of treatment
Do I Need to Get a Lawyer?
Although many people worry that they will need to find a lawyer immediately after their accident, the truth is that most workers comp claims can be resolved without a lawyer ever getting involved. However, there are many cases in which an employee will absolutely need a lawyer to protect his or her rights. If your claim is denied or if you face any retaliation (like being demoted or terminated, etc.) for filing a workers comp claim, then you will need the representation of an experienced lawyer to protect your rights under employment law.
Contact Our Team Today
Whether you are looking to find a workers comp lawyer to represent you or are simply looking for information on workers compensation law, you can trust our team to provide you with the guidance that you need. Here at the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, our lawyers are more than ready to answer all your questions and help you fight for your rights. We offer free case evaluations, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our workers comp attorneys will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns. If you are ready to schedule a free case review and speak with our experts, contact us at your earliest convenience!
