It’s an unfortunate reality, but the fact is, hundreds of thousands of people get injured at work every year. Accidents happen, and your workplace is one of the places you’re more likely to be involved in one. Many businesses put lots of resources into trying to prevent these accidents, but there’s always the chance an accident might occur, and someone gets injured.
If you’re unlucky enough to be involved in a workplace accident, this can potentially have a big impact on your life. Even small accidents can lead to injury and result in medical expenses, and lost wages, which is why many businesses are required to have workers compensation insurance.
To make sure your rights are protected if you experience a workplace accident, you should follow these steps.
Seek Medical Assistance
The most important thing is to make sure you, and anyone else involved in the accident, are OK. There are lots of injuries related to workplace accidents that don’t show symptoms immediately such as head traumas, so if you have any doubts, you should get checked out by a medical professional.
Be aware that in stressful situations such as a workplace accident, your body produces more adrenalin which can mask your pain. Take your time to assess your injuries and make doubly sure you’re OK before you continue about your day.
Your health is the number one priority, so don’t be in a rush to do everything else before it’s safe to do so.
Report the Accident
Your next step should be to report the accident. If nobody saw the incident, then let your colleagues know about it, this can alert them to any hazard and make sure another accident doesn’t happen.
Once everyone in the immediate vicinity has been made aware, then you should look to report the accident to a manager. They should be trained to handle these issues and be able to help you fill out a report in the accident logbook. Most companies will be required to have a logbook, so make sure you log your accident.
Employees can sometimes feel under pressure not to log their accident because of their companies’ accident targets, but it is imperative you make sure your accident has been reported. If your employer doesn’t have an accident book, then write to them, documenting your accident and creating a record of the incident.
Document Evidence
It’s easy to forget key details when you’ve been in a stressful situation such as a workplace accident, so make sure to write down your memories. Make a note of key details, such as the time, location, what you were doing, and any witnesses.
These details might help you further down the line if your claim is disputed, so it’s a good idea to take pictures of the scene, and any injuries you might have sustained. It doesn’t hurt to take down all the details, so be thorough and make sure you’ve got everything.
Speak to an Attorney
The best way to make sure your rights are protected is to speak to an experienced attorney like those at Schwartzapfel Lawyers. The law is there to protect you in cases of workplace accidents, and an experienced workers compensation lawyer will make sure you get any compensation you deserve.
You shouldn’t have to suffer financially for an accident that wasn’t your fault and an experienced lawyer will help make sure you are properly looked after. Workers compensation can be a complicated process, so it’s best to know you’ve got a professional in charge of your case so that you can focus on getting better.
