5 Steps to Take if You Sustain a Workplace Injury

A workplace injury can be a traumatic blow to you and your family. Not only it’s painful, but you’re also left with hefty medical bills and the inability to work.

The major causes of workplace injury are overexertion, slips and falls, and contact with dangerous equipment or objects. National Safety Council reports that in 2019 Injury rate by overexertion was 20.0 per 10,000 full-time workers, 23.9 by falls, trips, and slips, and 22.4 by contact with equipment.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, private industry employers reported 2.8 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses. The total recorded cases were 2.8 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers.

Workers’ compensation claims can be tricky, and unfortunately, some employers and insurance companies will attempt to look for reasons to deny your claims. Therefore, it’s important to understand the steps that you need to take and immediately contact a workplace injury lawyer.

Get Medical Attention

It’s an emergency, and it’s incredibly important that you seek medical care immediately.

It’s also important that you inform your doctor that your injury’s work-related. You have to make sure the doctor records detailed notes from your first visit. Documentation is crucial. Keep records of everything related to your injury, from dates to costs.

Report the Injury

Report your injury as soon as possible to your employer. You have to be concise, clear, and precise about how you sustained the injuries and how the accident occurred.

This way, your injury claim won’t be denied because you’ve reported it immediately.

Get an Accident Report

Make sure your employer files an accident report so you have evidence that can prove your injury. Remember to keep a copy of the report.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines, your employers are supposed to keep workplace injury reports available.

Keep a Record of Interactions

You must keep a thorough record of dates and times when you interact with any representative of your employer or insurance company.

Keep a track of what you and they exactly said during the conversation. Also, keep track of anyone else who was present at the meeting. This can later prove to be important evidence if your claim is denied or delayed.

Get an Attorney

The workers’ compensation process is tricky, and navigating it alone can be a daunting process. Therefore, we recommend that you contact workers’ compensation lawyers immediately.

If you’ve been injured in a workplace incident and are looking for a workplace injury lawyer in Los Angeles, our experienced worker’s compensation attorneys can help. We will protect your rights and help you seek your rightful compensation.

Contact OceanBridge Law Firm today.