Steps To Take After A Workplace Injury
Brian O Sutter
Workers’ Compensation
Even if you’re as careful as possible on the job, workplace injuries do occur. Florida is home to plenty of industries, commercial enterprises, and more and each of them has its own risks – some more serious than others. No matter what your job is, if you’re hurt on the job you’ll be required by your employer to fill out paperwork detailing exactly what happened and how you can recover from it. But, it’s important to remember that you can also focus on yourself. A worker’s compensation claim is there to provide you with restitution for time missed at work and for your medical costs so you aren’t impacted financially by the incident.
What You Need To Do After Being Hurt On The Job
There are a few key things you’ll have to do in order to ensure that your claim is considered and that it is valid. Here’s what to do if you’re hurt on the job site in any way.
• Tell Your Employer – whether it’s a minor repetitive stress injury such as carpal tunnel or a serious injury caused by machinery, you must report it. Do so even if you yourself made the mistake that caused your injury – worker’s compensation is an insurance that is no-fault. You won’t’ be denied just because you made a mistake.
• Get Medical Help – Your physical health should be your primary concern. Seek medical attention as soon as possible. This is important even if the injury was fairly minor – without a medical history you will have no way to prove your injuries are related to the accident or to show what you are owed in a claim.
• File Your Claim Quickly – The faster you file your worker’s compensation claim, the better. Legally, you have 30 days to file but doing so sooner increases your odds of receiving compensation and getting what you’re actually owed.
These are the three primary steps to keep in mind when you’re hurt. But, there are still some issues you may have to deal with – including the fact that some worker’s comp claims are denied outright or that injured workers are often offered less than they really deserve.
What If Your Claim Is Denied?
In a perfect world, injured employees would receive compensation within days of their injury through their worker’s compensation claim. But, this isn’t a perfect world. It’s very common for a claim to be denied or undervalued. The reason is simple – insurance companies want to avoid paying out a dollar more than they need to in order to keep their bottom line as high as possible.
If this happens to you, talking to a Florida worker’s compensation attorney about your situation is the next step. They can not only appeal your claim, but file a worker’s compensation lawsuit if needed.
A lawsuit may only be needed if it is showing that your injuries were caused by the negligence or recklessness of your employer. For instance, if they fail to maintain proper safety standards and that lack of proper safety is what led to your accident, they could be held liable through a lawsuit. But, you must show that they were aware of the safety issue.
Protecting Your Future
Even if you only use your attorney to appeal your claim, it is a good decision. Once you have legal representation on your side, you immediately get the respect of the insurance company – respect that you won’t get on your own. Your lawyer will argue your case and ensure that you don’t miss out on what you are really owed.
A workplace injury can throw your life into chaos. Our team can help you get back on your feet and move on. With decades of experience helping Florida’s injured workers get the compensation they deserve, we are here and ready to assist you. Contact our office today to get your initial consultation and find out more about how we can help.