What is the Best Way to Handle an Injury at Work?

The ideal day at the office or on the job typically does not involve sustaining a bodily injury, but it does happen sometimes and this can create difficult circumstances for the injured individual. Thankfully, there is a system in place that allows the injured worker to receive financial compensation from the employer and its insurance company to pay for medical expenses. This is known as workers’ compensation and while it is undoubtedly valuable, knowing how to navigate through the process can be somewhat tricky.

The first thing to do if you are injured while on the job, barring any emergency medical attention that might be necessary, is to report the incident to the human resources department of your company. Legally speaking, you have up to 30 days to report a workplace injury, but the sooner that it is reported, the more likely you are to receive full benefits and have your claim go through as quickly as possible.

After you report the incident, it is a good idea to seek whatever medical treatment is necessary to aid in the recovery process. The sooner that this is done, the smoother the claim with go. Remember to always document all medical treatment, including doctor’s visits and prescription medications. Shortly after the report goes through, you should hear from your employer or its insurance company regarding the compensation benefits.

If the employer or insurance company denies or tries to circumvent the workers’ compensation system, there may be grounds to file a lawsuit against them, as this is a legal requirement. When this happens, it is highly advised that you have a skilled and experienced attorney on your side to help guide you through the rest of the process and see that your compensation is won. To learn about how we at the Franco Law Firm can serve you in this role, please call us anytime at (813) 872-0929.