Putting Your Cell Phone to Good Use Following a Workplace Accident
Most of us can agree that cell phones have evolved from the novelty item they once were into a multi-use tool that is utilized throughout daily life. According to the Pew Research Center, over 96 percent of Americans now have a cell phone of some kind. Additionally, 81 percent of Americans self-identify as having a smartphone these days including the roughly one-in-five American adults who are “smartphone-only” internet users – meaning they own a smartphone, but do not have traditional home broadband service.
Additionally, over 12,000 workers are injured on-the-job every single day according to the National Safety Council. Many of these injuries lead to claims for workers’ compensation benefits that must be documented to help substantiate the claim. In addition to the other ways that the substantial increase in smartphone use nationwide over the past few decades has had an affect on many aspects of our day-to-day lives, it has also shifted how workers’ compensation claims are documented.
How Can You Put Your Cell Phone to Good Use Following a Workplace Accident?
- Document your workplace surroundings. Don’t assume the physical setting of the location in your workplace where your injury took place will remain the same. Physical evidence at your workplace that is not preserved or photographed in the first few days following an accident can get lost, destroyed, or repaired over time. This is magnified if you work outdoors and your workplace setting is exposed to weather-related elements.
- Document your coworkers. Similarly, don’t assume that just because someone is employed today at your workplace, he or she will still be there tomorrow. Make sure that you save the names and contact information of any workers who witnessed your accident in your cell phone. Additionally, write yourself a note about approximately where each coworker was located during the accident.
- Document your injuries. Photographs of your injuries also help in establishing the extent of the damage from your workplace accident. Take a number of photos from different angles so that you can later pick out the ones that show most clearly whatever it is you need to highlight. While there is no question that your medical records will be the key to establishing the extent of your injuries, these photographs can help substantiate your assertions that your injuries happened when and where you claim they did.
Have You or a Loved One Been Injured in a Workplace Accident?
In addition to using your cellphone to preserve evidence, one of the best ways to help yourself is to use it to quickly contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can help you present your evidence appropriately and ensure that you maximize all of the benefits you are legally entitled to. If you or someone you love has been injured at a workplace, we can advocate for you and ensure you recover the compensation you are entitled to while you focus on recovery. The Miami workers’ compensation attorneys at Payer & Associates have significant experience helping people like you. Begin by contacting us today to schedule a free consultation.
Resource:
pewinternet.org/fact-sheet/mobile/
https://www.payerandassociates.com/the-workplace-injury-risks-faced-by-airport-workers/
