Injury at the workplace, although avoidable, is always a possibility. Knowing what to do beforehand will help you get the best treatment and compensation possible from your employer.
Since all employers are required by law to buy compensation insurance for its employees, it’s almost guaranteed that you will get some form of compensation if you handle the situation well.
While some companies will compensate you fairly without a hassle, there are those who won’t comply unless you enlist the services of an injury-at-work lawyer in Murray. Here are the steps you should take to give you the upper hand when it comes to claiming your workplace injury compensation.
Get medical help first
Getting first aid is the first and most logical step to take after a work-related injury. Not only will this save your life but it will also give you the medical report you need to start processing the claim. Most workplaces with an emergency room will even use this visit as your first point of contact to getting workplace injury compensation.
File a worker’s compensation claim
Your employer’s HR department should file the workers’ compensation claim on your behalf. However, you must report the injury first to activate this procedure. Reporting as soon as possible, preferably hours after the injury is always wise.
You should also make follow-ups to ensure that the claim was filed. You have the rights to request for a copy of the compensation claim filed by your employer for your own record keeping.
In other companies, filing the worker compensation form is your own responsibility. Find out the right procedure of filing the claim from your human resource manager and take the necessary steps as soon as possible. Mostly, your claim is nulled if it isn’t filed within two years of the injury.
Hire an attorney if you don’t like what you see
In theory, your workplace injury claim is supposed to go through smoothly. If eligible, you should get fair compensation as soon as possible.
However, some employers and insurers will delay the compensation as they try to poke holes into your claim by proving that the accident was your fault and you are not eligible to the full compensation.
If this is the case, you will have to bring in an attorney whose specialty is dealing with workplace injury cases and compensation claims. Mostly, your initial consultation with the attorney will be free. The attorney uses this first interview to determine if your case holds water and if you can push for better compensation by starting a legal process.
While filing for compensation is important, you should also follow your doctor’s instructions for faster recovery. When necessary, consult with a specialty healthcare provider in case you feel that your company chosen physician wasn’t specialized enough to handle your case to the fullest.
This is important after major injuries that could result in lifelong or long term negative repercussions. Getting better should be as big a priority as getting the right compensation from your employer would be.
