What to Do If You Get Injured on the Job

Nobody anticipates getting injured on the job. But if you do, certain steps must be taken to ensure your care. If you've ever received an injury on the job and don't know how to proceed, read on to learn what you should do.



Tell Your Boss

If you get hurt on the job, you should tell your boss as soon as possible. You should tell them everything about what happened and how you got hurt. You should also tell them if you need to see a doctor or take time off work.

Your employer must receive notice for work-related injuries. Do not wait to see if your injury goes away. It can raise questions about the accuracy or legitimacy of your claims. If the employer knew about any dangers or risks before the accident, they could be responsible.

Document Your Injury

To make the report official, you must record what happened and get all of the essential papers. You should get three reports: an accident report, a claim for worker's compensation, and a report from your employer.

The incident report

You should file an incident report as soon as possible after the accident. It should have specific details about what happened, where it happened, and the person involved in the incident. Contact a personal injury lawyer if you are unsure what to add or where to get an incident report.

Past incident reports

If the accident has occurred more than once, ask for these specific past incident reports from the supervisor. The historical record of such accidents can further back your claim of negligence if the company does not agree to a healthy compensation.

Witness statements

You should ensure that you talk with and record the statements of fellow work colleagues who were at the incident scene. Their statements can act as further testimony to back your claim. They can also ensure that they provide a third-person view and recall of the incident to measure the accuracy of your incident report.

Go to the Doctor

Your injury will need professional care and assessment. The sooner you go to a doctor, the better. The doctor will ensure you have no serious or unseen injuries like internal bleeding. The doctor will also advise you how to care for your injury best. They can also tell you what rules you must follow to ensure you get better.

Your doctor will file their report based on their diagnosis. They must give details about how the severity of the injury and how it might affect your work. Also, they will include suggestions for treatment plans and approximate treatment costs.

Talk to a Lawyer

A lawyer can help you secure appropriate compensation based on your injury. The reports you filed will help in any settlement or personal injury suit. Your lawyer can help you understand personal injury laws in your State.

Personal injury laws lets people who got hurt physically or emotionally at work get paid for their pain and suffering. To win a personal injury lawsuit, the victim must show that the defendant was careless or negligent. They must also prove that this negligence or recklessness caused the victim's injuries.

Negligence is the failure to take reasonable care to avoid causing harm to others. The victim must show that the defendant owed them a duty of care to prove negligence. They must also show that the defendant broke this duty and that the breach of duty directly caused their injuries. Recklessness is acting with complete disregard for others' safety. As with negligence, the injured person must show that the defendant's actions caused their injuries.

Bottom Line

Almost every job has the potential to result in an injury. A good first step after any workplace injury is taking immediate action. It is possible to receive fair compensation for the incident if you act soon.

However, it might not be easy. If the situation between you and your company turns ugly, your lawyer will handle it for you. You can contact us at James W Bodiford Jr Law Office if you need legal counsel in a personal injury incident.