Getting hurt on the job can be a frightening experience on multiple levels. Not only might your injury cause you a significant amount of pain and suffering, it could also end up impacting you on a financial level. For this reason, it’s important to know what to do if you are injured during the course of your employment.
Robert Dewey of the Dewey Law Firm is a Charlotte, North Carolina personal injury lawyer with more than 30 years of experience under his belt, and he thinks that it’s important for people to be aware that the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act exists for a reason. The purpose of the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act is to provide key benefits (such as medical benefits, pay benefits, and disability benefits) to those who are injured while on the job. With few exceptions, every person in North Carolina who works for someone else is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Unless a company employs fewer than three individuals, it is required to carry the proper insurance that covers on-the-job injuries.
Whether your injuries are major or minor, if you’re hurt on company premises over the course of your job, then you’ll need to do the following in order to protect yourself accordingly:
Act quickly
If you get hurt at the office or on a job-related site, then you’ll want to react as quickly as you can – especially if the situation is one that requires immediate medical help. As soon as you are injured, report the incident to your supervisor so that he can document it accordingly.
Get medical help
If you’re injured on the job, then you shouldn’t hesitate to call for medical help as soon as possible. Unless you’re a doctor, you’re not likely to be qualified to assess your own bodily damages, so rather than wait around or “shake it off,” go to a doctor’s office or hospital emergency situation and get your injuries evaluated.
Describe what happened
When you arrive at the doctor’s office or hospital following your injury, a medical professional is likely to ask you what happened. Do your best to describe the incident as clearly as possible, and don’t forget to mention the fact that it happened while you were at work. In fact, if possible, try to take note of the time at which your accident occurred. This will help you when it comes to filing a workers’ compensation claim.
Get a doctor’s note
If your injury renders you unable to return to work for a period of time, then you’ll need to get such instructions in writing from your doctor in order to back up your claims. Similarly, if your injuries are such that your regular job duties cannot be completed in their entirety, then your doctor needs to provide you with written proof so that you can present it to your boss.
File a claim
If your work-related injury has caused you to miss out on wages or rack up a stack of medical bills, then you’ll want to file a workers’ compensation claim to recoup such losses. A good personal injury attorney can help you with the process if it becomes overwhelming. Remember, if you fail to provide the necessary information to back up your claim, then it might be rejected. By hiring a lawyer to walk you through the claims process, you can make the act of receiving the benefits to which you are entitled a whole lot easier. Additionally, in the event that your claim is met with resistance, a good personal injury lawyer can argue your case and do whatever follow up work is necessary to get you the compensation you deserve.
Getting injured on the job can be a traumatic experience on so many levels, so if you’d rather not face the aftermath alone, then hire a seasoned personal injury lawyer who is familiar with the ins and outs of your state’s Workers’ Compensation Act. By doing so, you’ll be bringing yourself one step closer to getting the justice you deserve.
This article is for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this article as a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances, and you should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Neither publication of this article nor your receipt of this article create an attorney-client relationship.
