While in the workplace, your employer has a duty to look after your health and safety. That’s why many organisations have a set of policies and guidelines that employees must follow while at work. These practices are designed to create a safe working environment that will keep both the interests of the employer and the employee safe.

However, no matter how cautious you are, there is always a chance that you could encounter an accident while at work. In this case, there is a certain procedure that you should follow. Failing to report an accident can affect your ability to claim worker’s compensation and benefits.

If you’re hearing all about personal injury in the workplace for the first time, you’ve come to the right place. Every employee should be educated on the topic and know what steps they should take. In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about navigating a personal injury case at work.

Seek Medical Attention

First things first, look after your injuries. Evaluate your wellbeing and call an ambulance if you deem this necessary. Even if you can’t see an open wound, you may have an injury without realising it, such as a concussion. Put your health first and visit a doctor as soon as possible.

Report the Accident

Once you’re in the clear, make sure to report the accident to your employer. Serious work-related accidents or dangerous incidents must be reported to the health and safety department. Make sure the report clearly states how the incident took place and when it occurred. Ask for a copy if possible.

Speak to Colleagues

Have a chat with colleagues and let them know about your accident. This could help them from encountering the same issue in the future and it may also help your own case if you decide to claim compensation legally. The latter is because some employers may choose to dispute that the accident even occurred in the first place.

Speak to a Specialist Lawyer 

If you suffered an accident because of your employer’s negligence you may be entitled to some form of compensation. These benefits will help cover important expenses such as medical bills and loss of income during your recovery. If you decide to escalate the case, we recommend you seek advice from specialist lawyers, such as the team at Lamber Goodnow Injury Lawyers Denver.

Record Expenses and Losses

More often than not, a serious injury will leave you unfit to work and unable to carry on with life as usual. Plus, it’s likely that you’ll encounter a greater number of costs. Make sure to keep note of all your losses and expenses as you can send these to the insurance company and get your money back.

Collect Pictures and Evidence

When you take a personal injury case to a court of law, it’s important that you collect as much evidence as possible. Make sure to be incredibly organised and detailed when it comes to gathering these documents. You can take pictures of the scene of the crime, obtain statements from potential witnesses, check for CCTV footage, and so on. Remember, there’s no such thing as too much evidence.

Follow Doctor’s Orders

Getting back on your feet and making a full recovery is the goal; therefore, you should make a conscious effort to follow your doctor’s orders. If you don’t take medical advice on board or refuse to go to any check-ups, you may risk losing out on compensation. The insurance company will simply argue that the injury cannot have been so severe if the patient was not following doctor’s orders.

Keep a Daily Symptom Diary

Keeping a diary during your recovery is a great way to help insurance companies determine how much compensation you should receive. You can take photos of your injury as time progresses. You can write about how this discomfort has affected your work, hobbies, or even family.

At the end of the day, you are in your right to report the injury and receive compensation. Don’t let your employer make you feel uncomfortable about the situation and make sure you do what’s right for you. Reporting these types of situations can also help future colleagues as it will make employers take health and safety measures more seriously. Personal injury cases can be a matter of life or death, especially when working in more adverse environments such as construction sites or manufacturing. Therefore, it’s up to you to look out for your wellbeing and secure your rightful compensation.