If you have recently sustained an injury at work, there are specific steps to follow to ensure you’re taken care of. Each injury and employer is different, but the steps following are similar. Here is a sample timeline of what you should do following a job injury.

Assess and Report

The first thing you should do is assess the injury, and depending on the severity, seek medical help right away. If it is something that can wait, you should immediately report the incident. One of the best ways to report an injury is to do so in writing, so you have a copy of it for your records. Another reason to report the incident as soon as possible is in case your state has a filing deadline. This way, you know you have reported the event promptly, and time cannot be something used against you. If you cannot report the incident immediately, due to the severity of your injury, try your best to get it done as soon as you can.

Claim

The next step is to file a claim with the workers’ compensation court in your state. This is an extra step in ensuring documentation is elsewhere. This puts your employer, the court, and the employer’s insurance company on formal notice. Filling a claim can be a confusing process if you have never done it before. This is why hiring an attorney to help you through this process is extremely helpful. Your lawyer will know the proper documentation required, where to send the claim to, and how to navigate the process.

Things To Know

No matter how close you are with your employer, it is crucial to remember their role in this situation. Their job is to protect their company, whereas your job is to protect yourself. There are no hard feelings in these situations because, unfortunately, your employer must protect their company just like you do yourself. This is another reason why having an attorney on your side is beneficial. Your lawyer is there to help you and support you during this time. They know how to deal with employers who are protecting their company.

If you have recently been injured at work, and need help with worker’s compensation, contact us at Slaughter Law. At The Slaughter Law Firm, we specialize in various areas of law, including workers’ compensation, personal injury, criminal matters, tax matters, and so much more. To speak with our attorney, Frankie Slaughter Jr., contact us online here or at (423) 844-0560 today!