From sprained wrists and mild concussions to broken bones and back injuries, any sort of on-the-job injury can take you right off the workforce. For many people who have suffered due to a workplace accident, they find themselves in an unfortunate and strange situation, where they want to work but cannot. To make matters worse, many employees are not offered proper workers’ compensation benefits, and they start to slip into a financial crisis as medical bills stack up and wages are missed. There is a way to fight for fair treatment, however.
Four Important Steps to Take After a Workplace Injury
- Gather evidence: Ask other employees if they saw what happened and to create written testimonies. Comradery between employees is a great way to get the honest truth from people. If you are permitted – not a confidential location – take photographs of the accident site yourself.
- Report the injury: Perhaps the most common mistake injured employees make is keeping it to themselves. Not only does it raise suspicion if you mention an injury days or weeks after it happened, it might also invalidate your claim. If you are worried about retaliation from your employer, know that you are protected by federally-mandated whistleblower laws. Keep in mind that an accident that doesn’t yield an immediate injury should be reported – there might be harm caused that you won’t feel or notice until weeks later.
- See a physician: If your injury is serious or extremely painful, you will want to do this as soon as possible. Ask for a copy of any medical records regarding your injury. In some cases, you might be asked by your employer to see a physician of their choosing. Before you agree, speak with your attorney, which leads us to the next step.
- Retain professional advocacy: No matter how clear-cut your injury claim might seem to be, you should expect some sort of difficulty or resistance along the way. The wise choice is to get a Columbus workers’ compensation attorney on your side as soon as you can. Not only will they be able to help you deal with all the complicated paperwork but they can also ensure that you do not miss anything important or say something that puts liability on your shoulders.
At Charles Zamora Co., L.P.A., we are able to take on any workers’ compensation claim that comes our way. If you have been injured on-the-job, you can trust in our firm to give you fair and powerful representation from start to finish. We have dedicated our entire practice to workers’ comp claims, so do not hesitate to dial 614.344.6822 now to request a free consultation.