The steps you take after you are injured on the job are important to your overall success in obtaining workers’ compensation benefits. Even more important, the steps you take after a work injury may also impact your long-term health.
1. Take Care of Yourself
Don’t forget about taking care of your body. You should get necessary medical treatment as soon as possible. Go to the emergency room if necessary. Tell your doctor what your symptoms are and how the injury occurred. After your visit, follow your doctor’s recommendations.
Keep in mind that you (generally) have the right to see your own doctor even if your employer would like you to see one of their choosing. Seek a workers’ compensation lawyer to find out about exceptions to this rule.
2. Talk to Your Boss
Tell your supervisor about your injury as soon as possible. Do not wait to give them notice of your injury until you have determined how serious your injury is. All injuries should be reported to management.
Under Minnesota worker’s compensation law, your employer is entitled to notice that you were injured. This gives your employer a fair chance to examine the injury scene, do an investigation, and take any other required actions. When you tell your employer about your injury, it also gives them the opportunity to fix any safety issues that may have contributed to the work injury.
Because of your employer’s right to notice of the injury, it is important that you report your injury to your supervisor as soon as you can. No injury is too small. In fact, even if you do not think you will need to seek medical attention, you should report the injury anyway.
Make sure your employer fills out a form called a First Report of Injury. You can see a copy of this form at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s website.
3. Get Medical Documentation
If your doctor has given you restrictions or taken you off of work, ask your doctor for documentation and provide this documentation to your employer.
4. Call a Work Comp Lawyer
Most injured employees wonder if and when they should get a workers’ compensation lawyer. After you have taken care of your medical needs and informed your employer of your injury, you should stop to consider this important factor.
After reporting your injury, your employer and its work comp insurer will look into your claim and determine if they will accept or deny it. An attorney may be helpful on your case regardless of whether or not your claim is accepted. Your work comp lawyer can keep the insurer “on their toes” and make sure they do not take advantage of you.
To determine if an attorney can help your case, contact the attorneys at 612-INJURED for a free consultation. Our team of Minneapolis work comp attorneys are available for a free consultation by calling or texting us at (612) 465-8733.
