There are a few steps that one has to follow immediately if you are injured while on the job. Personal injury attorney Tampa recommends them as they will ensure you get your compensation and avoid extra legal issues.
Medical Help.
Once injured, get medical treatment, and in case it is so serious that you have to go to the doctor or visit a hospital, your employer is to cover the travel costs. Your employer is also supposed to pay for any necessary medical service. First aid is administered, then if it the injury is severe, an appointment is made with your family doctor.
Ensure you report to the doctor what happened in detail and make sure he writes it down. Once you are done with the treatment, tell your doctor to send the Health Professionals Report to the WSIB.
Notify your Employer.
This is your next and most important step. Your employer should know once you are injured because once you delay, it is possible to lose out on the workers’ compensation benefits. This is due to the law that states your employer is to be notified within a period of 90 days once the injury occurs.
Write an accident report if your employer doesn’t have one. In the report, explain where, when and how the injury occurred. Make sure you explain the extent and nature of your injuries. Give the report to your employer and keep the copies. When you tell your manager or supervisor of your injury, this is enough and you don’t need to make a formal report.
Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits.
Fill a claim for workers compensation and mail it to the Workers’ Compensation Board near you. The grace period for filing a claim is two years, after that, you will not have the benefits that are attached to the claim.
You can make a claim by writing or by speech, but it is preferable if you write one. To write a claim, send a letter to your employer requesting for medical treatment. In the letter request your employer to notify the workers’ compensation insurance and for them to get a claim number, for you to use. You can ask for some time off and this will be enough for you to get a claim.
Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney.
An attorney will help you in ways that you will later appreciate. You cannot be charged when you are discussing your compensation case, and an attorney will help you notice the surprises that you are likely to encounter and how to deal with them. Also, the jargon that is likely to be thrown at you by your employer and insurance can be easily simplified by your attorney.
Not many people know the laws that are attached to workers compensation, many people, therefore, lose the claim they rightfully deserve, and at times they might lose their job as well.
Since insurance companies and employers can decide to play dirty, a personal injury attorney Tampa will counter-attack their tricks and help you get your claim. There are cases of insurance companies sending you to doctors who are known to testify against the injured employees.
Once you have done these things, make sure you follow the doctor’s instructions to ensure you fully recover. If you are required to, attend the International Medical Examination. Court appearances are a must attend if you are to make any, and once you recover report back to work.