By Samuel M. Gaylord
Every day, hardworking employees suffer injuries on the job. Unfortunately, many injured workers unintentionally jeopardize their rights by waiting too long to report the accident or seek medical treatment.
If you are injured at work, taking the proper steps immediately after the accident can make all the difference in protecting your health and your legal rights.
Five Things to Do Immediately After a Workplace Accident
1. Report the accident immediately.
Notify your supervisor or employer as soon as the accident occurs. Even if the injury seems minor, do not wait to see if it improves. Prompt reporting creates an official record of the incident and helps protect your right to workers’ compensation benefits.
2. Seek medical treatment.
Your health should always be your first priority. If emergency treatment is necessary, seek it immediately. Otherwise, follow your employer’s workers’ compensation procedures for obtaining authorized medical care.
3. Describe every injury.
When speaking with your employer and your physician, be sure to identify every body part that was injured. Sometimes injuries that initially seem insignificant become much more serious over time.
4. Document the accident.
If possible, take photographs of the accident scene, preserve any evidence, and obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses. These details can become extremely important if questions later arise regarding how the accident occurred.
5. Speak with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.
Before giving recorded statements or signing documents, it is often beneficial to understand your legal rights. An experienced attorney can explain the workers’ compensation process and help ensure your rights are fully protected.
Why Prompt Reporting Matters
One of the biggest mistakes injured workers make is waiting several days—or even weeks—to report an accident because they believe the injury will improve on its own.
Unfortunately, delaying the report of a workplace accident can seriously jeopardize your claim. If an accident is not reported promptly, your employer or its workers’ compensation insurance carrier may later dispute that the injury occurred at work. If your claim is denied, you may be delayed or prevented from receiving authorized medical treatment, temporary disability benefits while you are unable to work, and any permanent disability benefits to which you may ultimately be entitled.
Many employers also have internal policies requiring workplace injuries to be reported within a very short period of time—sometimes within 24 hours. Missing those deadlines can create unnecessary disputes regarding when, where, and how the injury occurred.
When reporting a workplace accident, explain exactly what happened, identify every area of your body that was injured, and request that an accident report be completed. If possible, obtain a copy of the report for your records.
Prompt reporting protects both your health and your legal rights by documenting that the injury occurred in the course of your employment and allowing your workers’ compensation claim to begin without unnecessary delay.
We’re Here to Help
Every workplace accident is different, and every injured worker deserves to understand their rights.
At Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein & Blader, P.C., our attorneys have spent decades representing injured workers throughout New Jersey. We have helped thousands of clients obtain the medical treatment, temporary disability benefits, permanent disability awards, and other benefits available under New Jersey’s Workers’ Compensation Act.
If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, we would be happy to answer your questions, explain your rights, and discuss your legal options during a consultation. Contact me at 609-658-8289 OR sgaylrod@szaferman.com
An informed decision made today can make a significant difference in protecting your rights tomorrow.
