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Villarreal & Begum Last Updated Date: October 23rd, 2023

What to Do if You Are Injured at Work

Steps to take after a work related accident

If you work in any sort of construction-related employment, you have likely thought about the chance of getting injured on the job before. Maybe you’ve even been injured on the job before. Depending on the company you are working for, there is likely a protocol or program set in place that helps its workers avoid work-related injuries. After all, both employees and employers will benefit from fewer injuries.

Report It

Although these precautions are taken, that doesn’t mean injuries don’t happen! If it happens to you, the first thing to do is to report it. Even if the injury isn’t serious or you want to wait and see if it will actually require medical attention because you aren’t yet sure, you should still always report it.

The reason reporting is so important is this: employers can deny you even if you had the injury at work. In this case, they are able to keep medical treatment from you and they may not even give you paid leave to deal with the injury. Reporting it is all about prevention. In case it does develop into something that requires medical attention, you should always report it.

Rules of Reporting

Your company most likely has certain rules in place for reporting injuries. For instance, some employers require a deadline for reporting – it may be 24 or 48 hours after the accident occured. If you don’t follow these rules, the consequences could be brutal. You might be suspended – without pay, of course.

Delayed Injuries

Plenty of injuries are felt after the actual accident that caused it. For example, if you strain your back while lifting something or twist your ankle when you’re stepping down from some machinery, you might be able to just “walk it off” at the time. You might even think about mentioning it to your supervisor, but then deciding against it because you don’t need to see a doctor yet anyway.

But then what happens if you wake up the next morning with a swollen ankle or a severely stiff back? Or when you tweaked it, it doesn’t start causing you major discomfort until weeks later? If you haven’t reported it, there is no way you can blame your employer for the delayed injury. Reporting it right away protects you from this happening.

Witnesses

You might need the trust of reliable co-workers in the event of an injury. They will probably have witnessed the incident and maybe even got a good angle to help you understand what happened exactly. They can serve as your witness to prove that what you report is indeed factually sound.

Workers’ Compensation

If you do get injured on the job, you should remember the fact that you are allowed workers’ compensation benefits. Sometimes you will need an accident attorney for this. You can usually get a free consultation with an attorney to explain your legal rights and requirements. If you have had any injury at work, don’t hesitate to take action.