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Being injured at work is the last thing anyone wants at the end of their long day. It can be a stressful, let alone confusing time for an employee. Not only are there the pain and the difficulties caused by the injuries, but these are accompanied by the stress of potentially having to take time off work or even never returning to work. In some of the worst cases, you may never be able to go back. However, there are a number of different ways that you can tackle this problem and so here are just a few.
Legal Help
If you have been injured at work through an accident that was not your fault, then it may be possible to make a claim that will help alleviate any money worries you are having. For example, a claim may be able to help fund your medical care, and any changes you need to make and give you the chance to take time off work so you can heal. If this is the route you want to take, then it is worthwhile contacting lawyers like Lamber Goodnow in Phoenix. They may be able to see if your case has a future and give you an idea of how much compensation you are due.
Focus on your health
This is the most important thing to consider after an accident by far. In the immediate follow-up to an accident, you should have been treated by a first aider. Every workplace should have a minimum of one assigned. If they don’t then this is a breach of the law by your employers. No matter what they say, you should also head to the hospital to get your injuries checked out as well, just to make sure that you are okay. You should also make sure that you record the injury and accident in the employee logbook. Not only will this provide evidence for you, but it is a legal requirement for many workplaces.
Keep a journal of your injuries
This is one that many people forget, and it causes them problems later down the line. You should keep an up-to-date record of your symptoms and how they progress. You can do it on paper, on your phone, or on a computer. This is important and does not need to be incredibly detailed. You should just note how you are feeling and what injuries are still paining you. The important thing is to date it. Your doctors and nurses may not update your symptoms every time and may miss some things out. Having a diary of everything will make your claim much easier.
Keeping track of your expenses/losses
When you are working out how much compensation you are entitled to, one of the first things that will be considered is how much this injury has cost you. The best way to think about it is to consider how much money you would have made or not spent if the injury had not happened. Every case is unique and so there is no set amount. If you have lost out on work, then you should recover all lost pay. If you have missed out on a promotion, then those losses may be recovered as well. But it is also important to think about the costs that you have incurred from care and from treatment. It can even include your heating bill if you have had to spend more time at home. List as much as you can.
Putting in a formal complaint
This is something that is not necessary, but you can do it if you feel like your employer has let you down. If you have suffered an injury because of dodgy equipment or because of pressure from your boss to not follow the required safety protocols, then you have the right to complain. You can do this even if an investigation is already happening. Your employer should not hold it against you, and it may help to stop more accidents from happening. However, not all employers will respond well to this, so you should consider this option carefully.
Injuries in the workplace
There are lots of ways you can get injured in the workplace, but the important thing is your mental and physical health. Make sure that you take the time to recover fully from an accident before you do anything else. Otherwise, you may find that you are laid off with an injury for even longer than anticipated.