Though workers never want to think about getting hurt at work, unfortunately, workplace accidents occur. It is important for workers to know what to do in advance and how to approach an injury and subsequent workers’ compensation claim for benefits. Understanding the best approach to the aftermath of a workplace injury is important for workers and their families in a variety of ways.
Knowing how to approach a workplace injury and workers’ compensation claim for benefits can be important for the worker to ensure full receipt of workers’ compensation benefits for the full duration that the worker is suffering from the injury and harm associated with the injury such as the inability to work.
Following a workplace accident, an injured worker should report the accident and injury to the worker’s employer and should seek medical treatment. Familiarity with the process of making a workers’ compensation claim can help better ensure thorough diagnosis, that nothing is missed and benefits are received until the worker enjoys a full physical recovery.
Workers can suffer injuries, and require workers’ compensation benefits, in a number of situations such as traumatic injuries; fall injuries; equipment-related accidents; occupational illnesses; toxic chemical exposure; and repetitive stress injuries. In addition, workplace accidents can unfortunately sometimes result in death which may necessitate workers’ compensation death benefits.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding the workplace accident, injured workers may also have a third party personal injury claim for damages. Personal injury claims can provide damages for harm suffered, while workers’ compensation benefits provide injured workers with medical costs and lost wages benefits. Because of the serious impact of a workplace accident on workers and their families, it is important for workers to have a plan for how to protect themselves if they are injured at work.