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Sustaining an injury at the workplace can be both distressing and life-changing. Unfortunately, it is a reality for millions of employees worldwide who are hurt on the job every year. In fact, according to a report by the International Labour Organization, approximately 340 million workplace accidents occur globally every year. Although there are many ways to reduce the risk of injuries in the workplace, it is not always possible to eliminate them altogether. In order to minimize the impact of a workplace injury as much as possible, it is important to know what steps to take to ensure that you not only recover swiftly but obtain the compensation you are entitled to as well.
Take care of your injuries
The first thing you need to do after being injured at work is assess your injuries and have them taken care of. The nature of your injury will ultimately determine whether you can go to the doctor or emergency room on your own accord or require an ambulance to take you. Even if your injuries appear to be very minor at first it is essential that you are examined by a qualified medical professional. At this point, you should focus on your health and well-being before anything else. Remember that even though you may not have obvious injuries, the trauma caused by the injury may have a long-term impact on your mental health and should be given the attention it deserves as well.
File an injury report
It is imperative that you report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. Supply as many details as possible, including how and where the injury was sustained. Apart from verbally reporting the injury, also submit a written report that will serve as proof of your effort to inform your employer of what transpired. Your employer should also insist that you complete a formal incident report form that will serve as further proof of the incident. If your employer does not request you to fill in such a report, be proactive and request it yourself. It is furthermore very important that you keep copies of everything you submit not only for your own records but also if you need to seek out work related injury help from a workplace accident attorney with regards to your workers’ compensation claim.
Seek out legal advice
Navigating your way through the entire workers’ compensation process on your own can be very daunting. Before you file your workers’ compensation claim it may therefore be a good idea to seek advice from a suitably qualified James V. Monaghan attorney first. Not only will an attorney be able to help you with the filling out and filing of the required forms but they can also deal with the insurance company on your behalf. They can, furthermore, provide invaluable assistance in helping you obtain the damages you are rightfully entitled to. If your injury was caused due to the negligence of a third party, you may be required to file a civil lawsuit against the negligent entity. In this case, the expertise of an attorney will definitely come in handy.
Sustaining an injury at work can be a very traumatizing experience. By knowing what procedures to follow when you do get injured on the job the whole ordeal can be made considerably less daunting.
