Employers are required to provide all workers with a reasonably safe work environment. There are specific rules regarding the need for them to provide you with safety equipment when completing certain tasks, how to address slick floors, training for the proper use of machinery and more.
However, even when employers take the best steps to keep you safe on the job, accidents can still happen from time to time. If you have been injured on the job, these three steps will get you on the road to recovery.
Document Medical Expenses
Most workplace injuries result in the need for medical attention. This may include emergency room services, hospitalization, follow-up doctor visits, medications, therapy, surgery and more. For all medical expenses that you incur, keep accurate records.
These medical bills and invoices may be needed for a workers’ comp claim or for a personal injury lawsuit in some cases. In many cases, you should not have to pay any related medical fees out of your own pocket.
Give Yourself Time to Recover
Many workers who are injured on the job feel an overwhelming sense of urgency to get back to work, and some return to work well before they are physically healthy enough to do so. This is not healthy for you or beneficial for the company.
Follow your doctor’s advice regarding your recovery, and consider seeking clearance from your doctor before returning to work. Remember that your employer, as well as workers’ compensation, may pay for at least some of your lost wages during your recovery period.
Seek Legal Assistance
Unfortunately, some workers have trouble getting a workers’ compensation claim approved. In some cases, employers terminate injured individuals because they feel that they are taking too long to get back to work. When these or other issues arise, you can feel stressed, and you may worry about your finances.
Some people are even unable to work in their same position permanently because of a disability related to the injury. You may have legal options in these or other situations. Consulting with a personal injury lawyer such as Kenneth J. Allen Law Group will help you to understand your rights, and the attorney may represent you in legal proceedings.
A workplace injury can happen to anyone regardless of the position that they work in. Even individuals with a desk job can be injured in various ways. Remember that you are entitled to have a reasonably safe work environment and that your employer may be held responsible if your injury was related to employer negligence or errors.
