What If You Get Hurt At Work?

No one wants to get hurt on the job. However, accidents do happen. So what if you get hurt at work? Most of us have no idea what we would do in such a situation and feel overwhelmed by the sheer thought of it.

If you get injured at work, it’s important to know exactly what steps you need to take to ensure that you will get the most out of your workers’ comp benefits. In an emergency situation, make sure you dial 911 and seek immediate medical treatment. Your health is the priority; don’t jeopardize your health by waiting to seek treatment. Aside from these, here are some other steps you should take if you get hurt at work:

1. Report your injury to your supervisor.
   Regardless of how you injured yourself, it is critical to report your injury to your supervisor. The good thing about workers’ comp in North Carolina is that you are covered regardless of whether or not you were at fault. So don’t be afraid to be honest about your injury.

2. Be detailed in your report.
   It’s important to be as thorough as possible in your report. Make sure to list every body part that has been injured, and describe in the detail how the injury occurred. The more specific you can be the better.  Be sure to get a copy of your report.

3. Have witnesses record what they saw happen.
   If anyone saw your injury occur, ensure that they write down their own account of the accident. Having eyewitnesses will help with the validity of your case.

4. Get pictures of the scene and your injuries.
   It may not be possible to get pictures of the scene, but you should if you can. And definitely get pictures of your injuries. It’s good to have a record of them when they were fresh, especially because they’ll heal over the course of your case.

5. Get to a doctor immediately.
   Regardless of the severity of your injury, you must visit a doctor to document the extent of your injury. Explain to the doctor how you were injured and tell them every body part that was injured. From here, the next step is to contact an experienced attorney. An attorney can help you evaluate your claim and direct you on how to proceed.

With more than $275 million in awards and settlements, the attorneys at Oxner + Permar have the experience to help guide you through a workers’ comp case and ensure you’re getting the benefits you deserve.