What To Do After a Workplace Injury?
The days after suffering a workplace injury can be painful, confusing, and stressful. However, it is critical that you take important steps in the days after your accident to ensure that you receive maximum coverage under workers’ compensation for your claims. If you were hurt in the course of your employment you are may be entitled to workers’ compensation from your employer, and there are some critical steps that you should take in order to make the process go as smoothly as possible. At Harbison & Kavanagh, we have helped many clients throughout Virginia navigate their workplace injuries and file workers’ compensation claims for the damages suffered while on the job. Call or contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys today.
Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
The first and most important thing for you to do after a workplace accident is to seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries. Getting medical care not only diagnoses and treats your injuries, but it also creates contemporaneous documentation about your injuries that can be used in your workers’ compensation case. In addition, the longer you wait to seek treatment, the more likely your employer will attempt to deny your workers’ compensation claims. Some benefits under Virginia workers’ compensation, such as wage loss benefits, only kick in if a doctor issues work restrictions so it is critical to seek medical attention for these reasons, as well.
Write a Report About the Accident
The next step is to write a complete and accurate report about the details of the accident. Be sure to include the date and time that the accident took place, the specific location of the incident, the names and titles of your supervisors, managers, and co-workers, any witnesses and their contact information, what you were doing immediately before and at the time of the accident, the environmental conditions of where you were injured, the injuries suffered, the names of the doctors and healthcare facilities where you received treatment, and what treatment is recommended for your workplace injuries. Many workers’ compensation claims can hinge on the smallest detail, so it is critical that you include as much information as possible in your report.
Notify Your Employer About the Accident
Virginia law requires that you notify your manager or supervisor about the workplace accident. If your employer has an accident reporting protocol you must abide by that, as well. It may require also notifying a human resource manager, safety director, and others. An injured employee has up to thirty days after the accident or within thirty days from the date that the doctor says you are suffering from a workplace injury to report it to your employer. Failure to report your injuries can serve as cause for your claim to be denied.
Call or Contact Our Office
Have you been injured on the job? If so, you most likely have a claim for workers’ compensation in Virginia. Call or contact us today at Harbison & Kavanagh to learn more about your legal options following a workplace accident.
