What You Should Do if You Are Injured While Working
Some jobs are physically demanding and have blatant safety hazards and an obviously high risk of injury while others seem “safe”, at least on the surface. Regardless of the kind of employment, no worker is prepared to deal with the repercussions of being unexpectedly injured at work. Fortunately, most workers in the Sunshine State who are injured on-the-job are entitled to obtain workers’ compensation benefits following an injury or work-related illness. Under Florida law, workers’ compensation is a benefit that every worker who is injured at work during the course of employment is generally entitled to. Because this is a no-fault system, a worker may be able to obtain benefits even if the workplace injury occurred because of the worker’s own negligence and it is also not necessary to prove the negligence of an employer. Many injured workers rely on these benefits to help with medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.
While this system is obviously beneficial, it is also important to understand that there are certain actions that you should undertake after a workplace accident in order to help you protect your rights.
What Should You Do if You Are Injured On-the-Job?
Failing to undertake certain actions after a workplace accident can actually jeopardize your chances of later qualifying for workers’ compensation benefits. Therefore, understand that if you are injured at work, you should:
- Alert your manager and file an accident report. As soon as possible after becoming injured at work, alert your manager to the accident and inform him or her of any known injuries. Regardless of whether you think you have been injured, report it as failing to do so in a timely manner can actually prevent you from being able to pursue workers’ compensation benefits altogether.
- Get needed professional medical help. Even if you think your injuries are minor, never hesitate to pursue medical treatment after a workplace injury. Your doctor can actually uncover injuries you didn’t immediately notice that may have otherwise worsened with time.
- Record the details. As time goes by, there’s a good chance that you won’t remember details such as who else was working the day of your accident or exactly how the scene was when the accident occurred. Therefore, record information for yourself in the form of notes, pictures with your smartphone, and even video as soon as possible after a workplace accident.
- Obtain competent legal help. The fact that you likely have a general right to obtain the benefits of workers’ compensation under Florida law does not help you unless you exercise these rights. Reach out to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to discuss the circumstances of your injury and obtain guidance on how to proceed successfully.
Are You Trying to Figure Out Your Next Steps After a Workplace Injury?
If you have been injured while working, you have every right to take immediate legal action in order to protect your rights. As the Miami workers’ compensation attorneys at Payer & Associates, we can ease some of the burden that comes with a workplace injury by helping you successfully demonstrate that it is linked to your employment and ensuring you receive fair compensation in the form of the workers’ compensation benefits that you are entitled to. Reach out for help today.
Resources:
myfloridacfo.com/Division/WC/pdf/WC-System-Guide.pdf
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/0440ContentsIndex.html
