Being injured can be difficult no matter what the cause was, but it can be especially hard if you were injured in the workplace. If you have been injured in the workplace, it is likely that you are feeling a wide range of different emotions. Understanding the best steps to take after you have experienced an injury at work will help you to ensure you are able to get the compensation you deserve and are able to get back to normal life as quickly as possible. This guide is here to help you better understand the steps that you should take after you have suffered from an injury in the workplace.
Record The Accident
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One of the first steps that you will need to take when you have suffered from an injury at work is to record the details of what has happened to you. As soon after the accident as possible, you should try to record details of the injury itself. You should try to take photographs of the injury and the scene to ensure you are able to paint others the biggest picture possible. As well to take photographs of the scene, it is useful to write out a detailed outline of how the injury occurred. During this stage, some people find it useful to create some drawings to visually show how the injury occurred.
As well as creating a detailed record of how the injury occurred you should also try to write down the contact details of anyone who has witnessed the accident. It can also be useful to ask witnesses to make their own notes about how the accident occurred to ensure you have a number of different records that you can reference later down the line.
Report the Accident
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Once you have made details about how the accident occurred, what injuries you sustained, and who else was present at the scene, it is time to report the accident to a senior member of staff. The exact person that you report the accident to will depend on the type of institution you are working for. When you are looking to whom you should report your injury, you should check your employment status, and this will provide you with more information.
If you are working for a company that has more than ten employees, then you will not only want to report the accident to a superior but also note down the details of the accident in the company accident book. While it is the obligation of your manager or superior to fill in the accident book, it is both checking to make sure this has been done. If your company does not have an accident book, it is useful to create a statement about your accident and send a copy to your superior, as well as keep a copy for yourself.
Seek Medical Support
Of course, if you are seriously injured, then you will need to seek medical support as soon as possible, but even if you have not been seriously injured, you should still consult with your doctor. Not only will your doctor play an important role in your recovery process, but they will also write down details for your medical records. The details that your doctors write down about your case can be very useful in proving your case later down the line.
Consult Legal Support
As the Rawlins firm explains, finding legal support can be hugely valuable when it comes to responding after you have suffered from a personal injury at work. Finding a lawyer who has experience with personal injury cases like yours can help you to ensure that you have someone on your team fighting your case. It is all too common for workplace injuries to lead to feelings of isolation. Taking the time to find an experienced lawyer will help you to have confidence that someone is out there fighting for your rights so that you can focus on recovery and getting your life back on track quickly.
Getting Your Benefits
Once you have found some legal support, there are a few other considerations you will want to make. If you are out sick as a result of an injury that you have suffered at work, then you should look into the benefits that you are entitled to as a result of a personal injury. To find out what benefits you are entitled to, you should check your contract to see if you have contractual sick pay and any access to assistance for medical care.
If you cannot see any mention of sick pay or compensation, you should try to find the staff handbook or consult with your manager about what to do. The process of getting benefits for an injury you have suffered at work can be more complicated if you are self-employed. If you are self-employed, you should look to see if you have any income protection insurance.
Making a Personal Injury Claim
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Once you have found a personal injury lawyer that has the experience and you feel supported, you might want to start thinking about making a personal injury claim. It is likely that you file a personal injury claim if you have suffered from an injury that is the fault of either the employer or the client. The process of filing a personal injury claim can be very time-consuming and complicated, which is why you are recommended to get legal support before pursuing a legal personal injury claim.
Personal injury cases can be pretty complicated, especially if you are claiming on the case of more than one type of damage, which is pretty common. Some of the most common damages that are claimed in personal injury cases include:
- Lost wages
- Prescriptions
- Medical equipment
- Home care expenses
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of companionship
- Punitive damages
- Pain and suffering
Finding an experienced legal support team will help you to ensure that you are able to gain all of the compensation that you are entitled to.
