For most employees, getting involved in work-related accidents can be a daunting and frustrating experience. This is especially true if the accident has caused serious work injury, giving you the inability to work again and earn a living for a couple of weeks, months, or even for life.
Luckily, dealing with workplace accidents doesn’t need to be as stressful as you think. As a matter of fact, there are ways that allow you to recover your losses and make sure you’re compensated with a fair amount of money.
Below are steps to follow to recover your losses from a work-related accident.
1. Notify Your Employer About The Accident
When trying to recover your losses due to a work-related accident, the first thing that you should do is to inform your employer about what happened. The report needs to be done immediately, a few days after the accident occurred or within the required allocated time in cases involving workplace accidents.
When you report what happened to your employer, be sure to get it done in writing so there’ll be a written record of the accident instead of just a verbal notification. Also, in doing so, provide the specific details of the accident as soon as you can to ensure you won’t miss any important facts that can help maximize your recovery of work-related losses.
However, if you want to ensure you’re in the right direction when recovering losses due to accidents at work, seeking legal help can be an excellent solution. For example, if you’ve been injured due to a slip and fall accident, then, slip and fall attorneys can help you navigate the legal aspect of your accident, including the recovery of compensation for the losses you sustained.
2. File A Workers’ Compensation Claim
When it comes to workplace accidents and injuries, most employees usually have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim against the employer. In its simplest terms, workers’ compensation refers to a state-mandated insurance program that’s responsible for paying the employees’ medical care when they’re injured on the job.
However, just like other legal processes, you need to know that there’s a limited amount of time to prepare and submit the necessary paperwork to get your workers’ compensation benefits. This means that both you and your employer should act promptly so you can get the most out of the benefits and recover your losses.
For example, your employer should assist you with the paperwork, file the claim with the insurance company in time, and comply with the state laws regarding the reporting of workplace injuries. As an injured employee, you should file the claim with your employer indicating the date, type of injury, and how it occurred.
However, before you can successfully file a workers’ compensation claim, you should ensure that the following are true and correct:
- Your employer has an active workers’ compensation policy.
- You, as the injured victim, is an employee of the company and not just a contractor.
- The employee has been injured while at work. File A Personal Injury Lawsuit Claim
3. File A Personal Injury Lawsuit Claim
In most cases, filing a workers’ compensation claim is the only option available to recover lost wages and medical costs due to a work injury. Since it’s considered an exclusive remedy, your employer is immune from lawsuits, provided that they cover the workers’ compensation benefits.
However, if you believe your employer intentionally caused your injury, was grossly negligent, or intentionally denied your workers’ compensation claim in bad faith, you may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit claim in court. For example, if your employer failed to maintain a safe work environment, like having a slippery corridor, which may be responsible for your injury since you slipped, their negligence can serve as a ground for a lawsuit.
Moreover, when you file a personal injury lawsuit claim, you may be able to seek financial compensation for the pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other psychological problems caused by your injuries. That’s because, unlike the workers’ compensation claim, this type of lawsuit may also be an excellent option if you’re looking to recover the emotional and psychological losses of a work-related accident.
Therefore, if you want to increase your chances of winning the case and get compensated for all your losses, be sure to work with an experienced lawyer who knows the legal requirements and the court processes required to handle these situations more efficiently.
Bottom Line
Getting injured at work can be confusing and, for some reason, difficult to handle, especially if you don’t know what to do and where to turn for help. Fortunately, by following the tips mentioned above and finding an excellent lawyer, you may be able to recover your losses due to work-related accidents.
