- Workers' Compensation
Employee safety matters a great deal. The last thing anyone wants is to get involved in a work-related accident. However, the reality is that a workplace injury can happen to anyone at any time without notice. The most important thing is to devise a plan to proceed with when an incident does occur.
An employee, after getting injured in a workplace accident, is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits to pay for medical bills and lost wages, as well as possible permanent disability benefits under the workers’ compensation laws.
There are different state laws for this coverage depending on where you live and work. It can be confusing to know what to do after a workplace injury, especially when you’re concerned about recovery. It is crucial to learn the steps you need to take to protect your right to Miami workers’ compensation benefits.
If you or your loved one was injured in an accident at work, you can pursue a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Nearly every employer is required by state law to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their employees. But still, you might require some professional assistance to carry and support your case while you properly recover from your injuries.
A competent Miami workers’ compensation lawyer from Work Injury Rights can help you claim compensation for your loss.
Things to Do After a Workplace Injury in Miami
Here are some steps to take right away after a workplace injury:
1. Seek Medical Attention
Workplace injuries require emergency medical care. Your priority should be getting the required medical treatment. Each company should have a safety site supervisor or a medical response team for their employees.
An immediate and efficient medical response can mean the difference between life and death in some cases. The safety site supervisor or medical response team should be alerted as soon as possible by any reliable colleague.
If the company doesn’t have any health care provider, you should visit the closest emergency medical facility to attend to your needs. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, or even for less severe injuries, it is vital to consult a healthcare provider assigned by the company’s workers’ compensation carrier or insurance company.
Ask your employer to assign a company-approved medical care provider for further treatment and recovery.
2. Report Your Injury to Your Employer
As soon as you can do so, inform your employer of your workplace injury and how it happened. You can also ask a reliable colleague to convey the accident report.
You can submit a detailed written or emailed notification so that there is definitive proof of your notification.
It is better to do it as soon as possible, don’t wait to see if the pain clears up or goes away on its own. Florida law requires employees to report work accidents within 30 days, and occupational exposure claims within 90 days.
Your employer should have you complete an incident report explaining the situation in detail. Make sure you keep copies of everything you submit for your records.
You can also fill out a workplace injury report, and your employers are obliged to keep workplace injury reports available for employees by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
3. Secure the Scene
Once the employee is sent to receive medical treatment for work-related injuries, it is vital to secure the scene of the incident as quickly as possible.
An employer must block access to the location of the event to prevent further accidents from occurring.
Preserving the scene of an accident is vital for both safety and reporting purposes. Limiting access to the area of the incident can preserve the accident scene for more accurate and thorough incident reporting.
With fewer people on the location, you have a greater chance that the scene is left untouched. This will give you a more precise picture of the events that contributed to the incident.
4. Take Photos and Create Videos
If you have suffered an accident at work, it is essential to gather as much evidence to support your compensation claim as possible. This can help if the insurance company tries to dispute the value of your claim by downplaying the severity of your injuries.
It can also prevent any bogus accusations from a dishonorable employer or the insurance company.
As long as you are not penalized for using your phone, you should take photos and videos of the accident location. Firsthand evidence of the accident will be the most compelling and will ensure that the location isn’t altered or tampered with.
5. Make a Workers’ Comp Claim
If you have been injured in a work-related accident, you can file a claim for compensation for your loss.
A claim must be made within two years of the date of the accident to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The compensation claim will help you by covering medical expenses, medication bills, lost wages, and many more.
By law, employers or business owners must purchase compensation insurance from reliable providers. They should place a certificate with the name of the insurance company where it can be seen at work.
6. Consult a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Before filing a compensation claim, it is essential to get professional assistance. Competent worker compensation attorneys from our law firm can help you with your compensation claim process. We can help you strengthen your case while you are undergoing the recovery process. The initial consultation is free!
7. Keep a Record of Your Expenses and Losses
A worker’s compensation claim is meant to provide enough resources to cover your losses caused by a workplace injury.
Let’s say that you lost pay due to the accident, then you should be able to recover a percentage of your lost wages. The compensation insurance is designed to cover all expenses like medical bills, medication, regular treatment, surgery costs, lost wages, and even death or funeral costs.
The more your attorney knows about your case, the more accurate your compensation settlement is going to be. Therefore you should record all your losses to get complete legal compensation.
How Can a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Miami Help?
Before filing a claim, it’s better to consult with an attorney who has extensive experience handling workers’ compensation claims. The Work Injury Rights team of professional lawyers can help you get proper compensation for your loss.
Contact us today to get in touch with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Miami who will support you throughout and maintain a strong position for you in your case!
