3 Avoidable Mistakes Injured Workers Make After a Workplace Injury
While there is a risk of injury in many jobs, some are significantly more dangerous than others. With approximately 4.6 million workers injured every year in this country according to the National Safety Council, many injured Americans suffer needless pain and suffering on an annual basis. However, one of the most important things to understand about workplace injuries is that almost all of them are totally preventable.
Many workplace accidents occur because of factors such as:
- Inadequate training
- Not hiring enough workers
- Long shifts that lead to worker fatigue
- Pressure from management during busy periods
But once an accident unfortunately occurs while you’re at your workplace and acting in the scope of employment, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits under Florida law for your injuries that can include coverage of:
- Current medical and health related costs
- Future medical costs and rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income due to a permanent disability
However, every injured worker should understand that obtaining workers’ compensation benefits is not always straightforward no matter how well-deserved compensation may be. Insurers will often do everything within their power to offer as little compensation as possible and even an employer with whom the worker has a good relationship may try to deny the claim in order to keep their premiums low. Therefore, injured workers should undertake a substantial effort not to make this easier on adverse parties by inadvertently making mistakes that prevent him or her from being able to obtain or retain deserved workers’ compensation benefits after suffering from a workplace injury.
These are some of the common mistakes injured workers make.
Failing to Notify an Employer in Time
An injured worker generally only has a time frame of 30 days under the law to notify his or her employer of the workplace injury following the accident or being diagnosed with an illness. If timely notice is not given, this can, unfortunately, be used to deny an injured worker the right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits at all.
Delaying Medical Treatment
Regardless of how minor a workplace injury may seem initially, waiting to seek medical treatment can only work against an injured worker if he or she later chooses to pursue workers’ compensation benefits and the amount of damage to a claim increases with the amount of time that passes without pursuing treatment after the workplace incident.
Oversharing on Social Media
Sharing something online that seems innocent to you can actually indicate that asserted workplace injuries occurred outside of work or that the severity level of what would otherwise be perceived as legitimate workplace injuries is not as extensive as what has been claimed. Injured workers should, at minimum, censor themselves and post online sparingly but it is better to avoid social media altogether while pursuing a workers’ compensation claim.
Are You Concerned About Making a Mistake Following a Workplace Injury?
The Florida workers’ compensation process can be complex and difficult to manage on your own. If you or a loved one suffered an injury on the job, you should strongly consider discussing the situation with a licensed attorney who can analyze the circumstances of your injury and advise you on how to pursue the compensation that may be available. As the Miami workers’ compensation attorneys at Payer & Associates, we are prepared to guide you through each step of the process, including an appeal if your claim is denied. Contact us today to learn more about how we may be able to assist you.
Resource:
nsc.org/work-safety/tools-resources/infographics/workplace-injuries
https://www.payerandassociates.com/factory-workers-and-workers-compensation/
