Accidents happen, but unfortunately, they can lead to injuries. One of the most common places for injuries to occur is at a place of employment. So what can an employee do if they are injured while on the job? We’re here to tell you. Here is Slaughter Law’s guide to worker’s compensation in Tennessee.

Inform and Document

After you’ve been injured on the job, the first thing you should do is to inform your employer and begin documentation right away. You have 15 calendar days to report a work injury to your supervisor so proper paperwork can be completed. In addition, this can speed up the handling of your injury claim as well. If your injury requires emergency treatment, you should go to the closest hospital emergency room.

Treatment

As stated above, if the injury requires emergency treatment, go to the ER right away. If not, you can begin looking for a doctor. In Tennessee, you will select your physician from a panel of three doctors your employer provides. This doctor will provide the care to restore your health, and so you can return to work. Medical treatment is provided at your employer’s expense. Every business has to have insurance, which is where that plays in here.

Benefits

Employees injured on the job may be entitled to receive the following:

• medical treatment, no cost to the employee
• travel expenses
• temporary disability benefits (wage replacement)

Rights

As an employee, you have the right to receive proper treatment for any work related injuries. If you do not receive that, you should contact a lawyer right away. A lawyer can help you during the process, even if your employer is working with you. You want to make sure you fill out the proper documentation from the beginning, and a lawyer can assist with that. In addition, it’s vital to know your employer cannot fire you for reporting a work injury. That is illegal. Again, if this happens, contact an attorney.

At Slaughter Law, we are here to support our clients in any legal matter, including worker’s compensation. To learn more about navigating the worker’s compensation realm, contact us online here today!