It’s an unfortunate fact that not every workplace is safe. No matter where you work, there is some risk that you can be hurt on the job. And while some jobs are inherently more dangerous than others, you can never really avoid the risk altogether. So, what should you do if you’re hurt on the job?
Getting hurt while on the job is different than if you get hurt someplace else. There are different procedures you need to follow, and if you don’t, your life could become a lot more complicated. To help you out, here are the steps you should follow if you become injured on the job.
Get Medical Help
First and foremost, get yourself medical attention. It’s important that you take care of yourself, so seek whatever medical attention you need right from the beginning. Whether this is going to the first aid station at your job, setting up a doctor’s appointment, or rushing to the hospital, don’t wait. The sooner you get medical treatment, the sooner you can recover and proceed with the next steps.
Notify Your Supervisors
The next thing you need to do is notify your supervisors of the injury. You need to let your supervisors know of the injury for two main reasons. First, this let’s them record the incident. If you fail to let your supervisors know in a timely fashion, they may be able to claim that you were in fact injured outside of work, thereby eliminating your ability to get compensation.
The other reason to let them know is so that they can take any necessary steps to fix the problem. If you were able to get hurt on the job, that means other people could get hurt in the same way. By letting your supervisors know, they can investigate the situation and put new policies into place to prevent a similar injury from happening to anyone else.
File Your Worker’s Compensation Claim
Next comes some paperwork. In order to receive damages, you need to file a Worker’s Compensation claim. This claim comes into place when you are no longer able to work because of your injury, and you need money to get by. Worker compensation forms vary by state, but you’ll likely have to fill out a few pages and then mail it in. The timeframe you need to do this in also varies by state, so find out what regulations are in place for where you live as soon as you can. You don’t want to find one day that the deadline has passed you by, and now you’re out of work and out of money.
Talk to a Lawyer if Necessary
In some cases, you’ll need to hire an attorney to help you get the money you deserve. In fact, according to Schwartzapfel New York Lawyers, “When it comes to serious injuries – and especially those that will require long-term medical care – you should not file a claim and represent yourself.” If you’re having a hard time getting your place of business to pay damages, you should consult with a lawyer on the next steps you need to take. Hopefully it won’t come to this, but if it does, make sure you have a good team on your side.
Use Your Money Wisely
After all of this, you should have some money coming in to help you deal with the injury. In many cases this is a large sum, and too many people are tempted to spend it all right away. You should avoid this temptation. Instead, think long-term and remember that this money may need to last you a while. Look for ways to wisely invest your money and don’t go spending too much on things you don’t need. Also remember that you’ll need to pay your lawyers and maybe some hospital bills, so factor these in when strategizing about your personal finance decisions.
Get Back to Normal Life
Finally, it’s time to get things back to normal. Work on taking care of yourself and recovering from your injury. As soon as you’re able, get back to work and your normal routine. Hopefully your injury was a minor one, and you won’t be out of work for too long.
No matter the severity of the injury though, it’s important that you follow the steps above. They are the best way to ensure that you get whatever money you deserve, and that you’re able to get your life back to normal as soon as possible. Going through a workplace injury is tough enough without making it harder on yourself, so take things one step at a time and make the decisions that are best for your future.
