Workplace injuries are serious. Every employee should be able to work in safe and acceptable working conditions. Sometimes accidents happen, but sometimes, employers do not take adequate care to maintain a safe and secure workspace.
Either way, you’re likely entitled to workers’ compensation. But a workers’ compensation claim can be confusing, especially if you’re denied. If you get injured at work in New Jersey, a NJ worker’s compensation lawyer can help you navigate this process and fight for you if your claim is wrongfully denied.
Keep reading to learn what to do if you were injured at work.
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Common Workplace Injuries
Almost any injury that occurs at your place of work can be considered a workplace injury. Below are some of the most common workplace injuries.
- Exposure to harmful substances
- Overexertion or strains
- Repetitive use or overuse injuries
- Slips and falls
- Equipment-related accidents
- Collisions and crashes
If you are a victim of any of these injuries or something similar, you are likely entitled to workers’ compensation and should seek financial damages.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that employers buy to cover the cost of financial compensation for employees injured at work. This insurance can reimburse or cover the injured employee for medical care bills and give them cash benefits for wrongful injury.
The injured employee or claimant can be denied compensation if the insurance company deems there is a lack of evidence or the claimant does not qualify for workers’ compensation. Even if your case seems straightforward, minor technicalities or bureaucratic processes can prevent you from receiving the compensation you deserve.
Steps to Take Following a Workplace Injury
If you were injured at work, there are a set of steps you should follow after the accident. The top priority is always your health and safety, so take care of yourself first.
However, act swiftly following a workplace injury. Many states have a short statute of limitations for reporting workplace injuries and filing a workers’ compensation claim.
Report the Injury
The first thing to do is report your injury immediately after it happens. Some workers don’t report their injuries because they’re embarrassed or don’t want to exacerbate the situation. But that is a crucial mistake.
Report your injury to your employer. Then, your employer must report the injury to your state’s workers’ compensation board if they have one. Many states legally require you to report any workplace injury, whether you want to seek damages or not.
Some injuries take time to affect you. Even if you think the injury was minor, report it anyway.
Seek Medical Assistance
As mentioned, if your injury is severe and dire, seek medical attention right away. Reporting the accident as soon as possible is essential, but second to your health if you need immediate help.
Visit a physician in the network for your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. It will help your comp claim if you collect all paperwork related to your medical treatment.
Keep records and bills, and ask your healthcare professional for copies of all relevant paperwork. Doing this can make gathering and organizing evidence much easier, which is the next step!
Collect Evidence
Once you have reported the injury and received medical attention, you can start to gather evidence to support your claim. Workers’ comp claims evidence can come in many forms, such as:
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Medical expert testimonies
- Vocational expert testimonies
- Coworker or witness testimonies
- Proof of an unsafe workplace
- Evidence of injuries
- Accident report
Collecting evidence can be overwhelming. This step is where an attorney can be helpful, especially if you suspect your claim will be denied. If the insurance company denies your claim, a lawyer can advocate for you and take go to trial.
Seeking Workers’ Compensation
If you suffered a workplace injury, don’t hesitate to report it and make a claim. There is no reason to feel ashamed, and you may be legally required to report the accident.
Whether you have a broken leg or a pulled muscle from overexertion, you have every right to seek compensation.
