No one wants to think about the possibility of getting hurt on the job, but the fact of the matter is that workplace injuries occur frequently. Additionally, some jobs are much more dangerous than others, and some people face the risk of serious personal injury or even death on a regular basis.
Getting hurt at the workplace can cripple you in more ways than one. It can put you out of work for an extended period of time or even leave you permanently disabled with a mountain of medical bills with your name on them. If you work a dangerous job, your employer probably constantly cautions safety and awareness, but being careful isn’t always enough. Continue reading to learn what you need to do if you suffer a workplace injury.
Notify your employer of your injury.
Whenever you suffer an injury on the job, your first step should be to let your immediate supervisor know you’ve been hurt. Too often, people suffer what they think is a minor injury in the workplace without ever notifying a superior only for their injuries or illness to take a turn for the worse later. Whether you have a mere scratch, a small discomfort, or a broken bone, it’s important to report your injury so your employer can have a record of you getting hurt.
Get compensation for your workplace injury.
One of the scariest things about getting hurt on the job is knowing that you’re going to have to be out of work for a period of time. All you can do is cross your fingers and hope to be able to return as soon as possible.
Filing a workers’ compensation claim should be at the top of your list of priorities if a work injury is sidelining you. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that pays injured workers a certain percentage of what they would make if they were on the job while they’re out of work.
Workers’ compensation is something all injured workers are entitled to if they get hurt on the job, however, if your injury is due to the negligence of your employer or a coworker, you have a personal injury case on your hands. In the WINInjury Network, you can find qualified Chicago workers compensation attorneys who can handle your personal injury or workers’ compensation case in a timely fashion and get you the financial compensation you deserve.
Go see a medical professional.
If you have a work injury, you should seek medical attention immediately after speaking with your supervisor. Sometimes workers shy away from getting medical care for workplace injuries for fear of incurring obscene medical bills, but employers are responsible for their injured workers’ medical bills if they get hurt on the job. More importantly, the quicker you get medical care, the more doctors can do to help you in a timely manner.
With as far as medicine has come, you can lose your natural teeth due to a work injury or car accident and walk out of the dentist’s office with new teeth in a single day with the teeth in a day procedure. However, if you don’t get medical treatment, you’ll never know the full extent of the damage you sustained due to your work injury. Dental implants are far and away better than traditional dentures, and with the right dentist putting in the dental implants for you, you’ll have beautiful new teeth in a single day.
Whether you go in for a day procedure to replace missing teeth or to get medical treatment for back pain, keep all receipts for medical bills from your work-related injury. Workers’ compensation regulations dictate that employers must cover your medical bills for injured workers who get hurt on the job, so your employer’s insurer will need to see your medical bills.
No one wants to suffer an on-the-job injury, but they’re common in certain environments. If you’re injured on the job, notify your employer, seek medical treatment, and get an attorney to represent your interests.