Suffering a workplace injury is a unique experience for everyone. If you get hurt, you might realize immediately that you have sustained a very serious injury that requires emergency care. Or, you may think it’s a relatively minor injury.
Whatever the situation, it’s important to make sure that you take some key steps (or that someone else does so for you) after suffering a workplace injury.
Get medical attention
Even if your injury doesn’t warrant going to the hospital or an urgent care facility, get medical attention as soon as possible. This will help to ensure that your injuries are documented by a doctor so they can be tied to your job. You also may have internal injuries, like a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that will only show up on an MRI or other scan.
Report the injury to your employer
Make sure your employer knows about your injury. Whether your manager or someone in authority is at the scene of the injury or not, be sure they know about the incident, complete the appropriate report and document the facts correctly. You don’t want your employer reporting something inaccurate about the circumstances or your condition after the accident.
Collect evidence
While your mind might not be on taking photos of your injuries, any unsafe conditions or the aftermath of the accident, someone should. If you can, ask one of your co-workers to do that and send them to you. Pay attention to who was around so you can refer your manager, their workers’ comp insurer or anyone else who needs witness statements to them. As soon as possible, document what you were doing at the time, exactly when and where the accident occurred, who was around and who was notified.
File a workers’ comp claim as soon as possible
The Maryland Workers Compensation Commission typically requires injured workers to file a claim within 60 days. The sooner you file, the sooner you can begin pursuing the benefits you need and deserve. It’s crucial to submit all necessary information and documentation to avoid having your claim delayed or denied unnecessarily.
Get to know your rights
It is always advisable to learn as much as possible about your right to workers’ compensation – especially if you’re getting pushback from your employer about filing a claim. Your employer shouldn’t try to talk you out of filing one or threaten retaliation.
Getting legal guidance can help you protect your rights, fight any initial denial and expedite your claim. Contact Cohen, Snyder, Eisenberg & Katzenberg, P.A. to learn about how we can help.
