Despite all the technological advances of the 21st century, there are still many tasks that have to be done by skilled laborers. No matter how advanced computers get, there are some things that need the human touch. Even though there are safety standards set in place to reduce the risk of injury at work, accidents still happen. Sometimes you can get lucky and just be dealing with a minor cut or scrape.
But there are other times when you don’t get lucky and you get seriously hurt. It’s important to know what to do in circumstances like this, where you receive a more severe injury. Here’s a quick guide to walk you through what to do when you take a nasty spill at work.
Seek Medical Treatment
This should go without saying, but the first thing you should do is to get medical treatment. As tempting as it might be to just walk it off or recover at home, it’s important that you receive proper care in case your injury is more severe than you think. You might feel fine at first, but it’s possible that the true extent of your injuries won’t show for days or weeks.
Getting checked and diagnosed is important. For example, if you fell and hit your head, any internal injuries might not be immediately apparent. If you are seriously injured, the diagnosis from a doctor will serve as evidence in the event that you need to hire a personal injury lawyer to prove that you were in fact injured at work.
Report the Incident
As long as you were injured on company premises or you were in the middle of performing a work-related task, it’s important that you file a written report of what happened. Verbal apologies are nice, but ultimately mean little if you need to file for personal injury benefits. A written report will help solidify your case and eventually make it so that you can get the benefits you are entitled to as an employee.
A written report signed by your employer will serve as the official record of the incident, and their signature is undeniable proof that they acknowledged that it had happened. This way unscrupulous employers can’t just sweep the whole thing under the rug and deny you the compensation you deserve.
Get Some Rest
Once you’ve received proper medical care and have been discharged from the hospital, it might be tempting to show your dedication by going back to work as soon as possible. You need to take some time to rest and recuperate. The company will be able to function without you in most cases, and you need to focus on taking care of yourself first. You should file for leave and just take it easy for a while.
Take some time to do something relaxing and avoid anything strenuous for a while. Do your best to recover properly, and don’t try to just “walk it off.” Ignoring your injuries in favor of doing something stressful might just hamper your recovery or, in unfortunate cases, make your injuries even worse.
Lawyer Up
Injuries can be life-changing events with unpredictable consequences. That’s why in the event that you are injured, you should do everything you can to make sure that you’re getting the compensation you deserve. The company may be able to replace you, but you will ever have only one body to work with.
Regardless of what your employer does, it’s always safe to have a lawyer ready. Even if your company offers to compensate you for your injuries and you think that they’re giving you a good deal, it’s better to have a lawyer look at the terms of the agreement. They’ll be able to protect you from being under-compensated and ensure that you’re getting the compensation you really deserve for the hardship you’re experiencing.
Be Discrete
Like when playing poker, it’s important to play your cards close to your chest. Do not post anything about your injury on social media unless your lawyer tells you to. You might be inadvertently violating company policy by doing so and void your eligibility to get your compensation benefits. After you’re in stable condition, give your lawyer all the information you have and let them figure out how to proceed moving forward.
No matter how civil you word a social media post or how nice the sympathy might feel, just stay quiet about the situation until it’s over. The last thing you want is to post something on Facebook to get some sympathy likes from your friends, only to be hit with a libel suit by your employer. Listen to your lawyer, and publicize information only as needed.
