Introduction
It is unfortunate that so many people are injured while on the job, and these injuries can have devastating consequences for the injured party in terms of medical costs, compensation, and even lost wages. If you’re an employee and you’ve been injured while on the job, here’s what you should know about what to do if you’re injured while on the job so you can deal with your injury in the most efficient manner possible.
Keep documentation
There are a variety of things that can happen on-the-job—accidents, injuries, and illnesses. Many times, you can recover from these health issues without going to a doctor’s office. However, if your symptoms worsen over time or don’t go away within a reasonable amount of time (2–3 weeks), you should probably seek medical attention. Documentation is important when it comes to filing for workers’ compensation benefits, so keep notes about how you were feeling before and after an accident/injury/illness happened.
Get treatment as needed
First, it’s important to receive treatment for your injuries. If you can’t make it to a medical professional right away, try to stabilize yourself by applying ice or taking anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen. Make sure that you rest and avoid doing too much—even if it means asking a friend or coworker for help with tasks like picking up groceries or running errands.
Talk to your doctor
If you’re injured on the job and have no insurance to cover your medical care, don’t worry—there are still plenty of options. While going to a hospital may not be one of them, that doesn’t mean you can’t get necessary medical attention. If a patient walks in with an injury and cannot afford treatment, hospitals will usually take care of them.
Know your rights
If you are injured on the job or contract a work-related illness, it is important to know your rights. First and foremost, you want to contact your employer’s human resources department to let them know of your injury or illness. Your employer should be providing any necessary medical care, and they may also have worker’s compensation insurance in place.
Conclusion
Are you injured at work, but don’t know what to do next? Unfortunately, many people find themselves in that very situation. If you get hurt or sick on-the-job (also known as having a work injury) and your company doesn’t give you proper medical treatment for it, then your best bet is to contact a workers’ compensation lawyer. A good personal injury attorney should know exactly how to handle any workers comp claim.