Why Is it So Important to Report Work Injuries Immediately?
Promptly reporting an injury at work protects you in numerous ways:
You Get Swift Medical Care for Your Injury
Sometimes, what appears to be a minor injury can become a significant health issue if left untreated. Reporting the injury right away allows for prompt medical intervention, often leading to quicker recovery and preventing further complications. This helps you avoid unnecessary suffering and return to work sooner.
You Create a Paper Trail of Your Work Accident
Documentation can be vital when pursuing a workers’ compensation claim. An official report provides an accurate record of events, aids in establishing the timeline, and potentially strengthens your case. With prompt reporting, crucial evidence may be recovered, and the insurance company would not be able to question your claim’s validity so easily.
You Spark an Investigation Into the Cause of Your Injury
When an injury is reported immediately, it allows for a more thorough investigation into the incident. Understanding the circumstances that led to the injury can help identify hazards or unsafe practices. This knowledge is essential for preventing similar incidents from recurring, thereby promoting a safer work environment for everyone.
You Protect Your Right to Workers’ Compensation
In the realm of workers’ compensation law, there are specific deadlines within which you must report an injury and file a claim. If you fail to make a report in a timely manner, you could miss these crucial deadlines and lose your right to seek workers’ comp benefits.
In addition, any delay in filing might allow insurers or employers to dispute your claim. They may argue that the injury was not serious or, worse, that it did not occur at work. Prompt reporting leaves little room for such disputes, protecting your ability to navigate the workers’ compensation process and seek the damages you need.
Why Do Injuries Go Unreported?
Employees may avoid reporting their work injuries immediately for many reasons, including fear of losing their job, being demoted, or ruining their reputation as a safe worker.
You should know that it is illegal for employers to retaliate against employees for exercising their right to file a workers’ comp claim. Your employer should not punish you for reporting your injury, and if they do, you have legal options.
In some cases, an employee might not report an injury simply because they do not know how to do so: maybe they are new to the workforce, or maybe English is not their first language. If you have any questions about your rights or the reporting process, our workers’ compensation lawyers can help.
How to Report a Workplace Injury
The process for reporting a work accident involves the following steps.
- Preserving evidence from the scene: If you are not so badly injured that you need emergency care, spend a few moments collecting evidence from the accident scene. This might involve taking photos and noting the identities of the people around you. Later, you can write down the entire sequence of events while your memory is still fresh.
- Getting medical attention. Always see a doctor or go to the ER after an accident. You want to receive a diagnosis and a treatment plan as quickly as possible. Make sure to tell your doctor that your injury is work-related.
- File a report with your employer. There may be a specific form you have to complete. Our workplace injury attorneys can tell you what paperwork to file and ensure your answers are complete and correct.
- Check in with your employer if necessary. It is the employer’s responsibility to file their injured worker’s claim with the insurance company in time. If they fail to do so, we can file your insurance claim directly.
Pay attention to how long you have to report a work injury: in most cases you have 30 days to report your injury to your employer, and your employer has seven days to file your report with their workers’ compensation insurance. If you do not meet these deadlines, you could be barred from recovering damages, no matter how badly you were injured or how clear it is that your injury is job-related.
What Benefits Can You Get After Reporting a Work-Related Injury?
Our work injury law firm understands how overwhelming it is to suffer an occupational injury. The reporting process may seem like an unnecessary burden, but filing a report is the only way to get the compensation you deserve for:
- Medical care
- Lost wages
- Disability
Rest assured that we can help you with every step of the workers’ comp process. Not only can we make sure your injury is reported appropriately, we can negotiate with the insurance company or even sue a liable third party for additional damages if necessary.
Your journey to fair compensation begins with a timely work injury report. If you want assistance at any point in this process, feel free to reach out to us.
Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Work Injury Case
If you’ve been injured at work, do not delay. It is critically important that you report your work injuries immediately. If you’re unsure about how to seek workers’ compensation benefits or want legal advice, contact Rosenberg & Rosenberg. Our workers’ comp attorneys can guide you through the process and advocate for your rights, starting with a free consultation.
