Many people are injured on the job each year, and most injuries are thankfully minor. Some injuries are serious, and they require a considerable amount of medical care and ample time off of work to recover. In rare instances, the worker is so severely injured that permanent disabilities require him or her to enter an entirely new line of work. If you have recently been injured on the job, these essential steps will guide you through the recovery process.
Obtain Medical Attention
Immediately after you are injured, seek medical attention that is suitable for the severity of your injuries. Emergency room treatment may be required in the case of a severe injury. In some situations, you must obtain treatment from an approved medical provider in order to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Do not delay seeking emergency care when needed, but also pay attention to any requirements that you must follow to receive related benefits.
File Appropriate Paperwork
You will need to appropriately document your injury. Your employer may have specific paperwork that needs to be filed as soon as you are able to do so. You may also need to file paperwork for workers’ compensation claims, health insurance claims and more. Stay on top of the paperwork, or ask a family member to help you if your injuries make it difficult to do so yourself.
Hire a Lawyer
There are many reasons to seek assistance from a personal injury lawyer such as Loughlin Fitzgerald P C in this type of situation. A personal injury lawyer can represent you in a workers’ compensation claim so that you obtain a fair amount of money from the process. The lawyer may also protect your rights if your employer is attempting to terminate you. If the employer is at fault, the attorney may inform you about your option to file a lawsuit against your employer.
Attend Required Hearings
There are several types of hearings that you may be required to attend. For example, you may need to attend a hearing regarding workers’ compensation, with OSHA or related to a lawsuit against your employer. Be sure to write the dates and times of various hearings and meetings on a calendar or in a planner so that you do not overlook important events.
Because workplace injuries can be traumatic, stressful and painful, it is not reasonable to expect to navigate through the recovery on your own. Seek help from family, friends and a lawyer as needed so that you have the full level of support that you need.