What Do I Do If I Was Injured At My Job?

If you are injured while on-the-job, you may not be able to work and will have some concerns about how you are going to pay for your bills. In most cases, it is your employer's responsibility to compensate you for the injuries that you experienced in their workplace. If you follow the steps below after you have been injured, you can receive the compensation that you deserve.

1) Notify Your Employer.

First, right after you experience the injury, you should tell your employer right away to let them know what happened. You have 90 days to notify your employer of your injury. Your employer will have to fill out a Form 12A in order to notify the Workers' Compensation Commission of your injury: Employer's First Report of Injury. Workers' Compensation terminology can be somewhat complex, so it is important to look up any words related to Workers' Compensation on the Internet.

2) Seek Medical Treatment.

Not only should you notify your employer immediately after the accident, but you should also see a doctor. Even small injuries should be seen by a medical doctor. A cut or bruise may seem small at first, but you could have internal issues that could get worse without treatment. You should have your doctor write up all of your excuses for missing work.

3) Consult With An Attorney.

You should also meet with an experienced personal injury lawyer who has a history of doing workers' compensation cases. Even if your employer has accepted liability and agreed to pay your lost wages and medical bills, it is important that you speak with a knowledgeable third party so that your rights are protected. This includes unions. Be aware that unions are not only working for you, they are also working for your employer. Their opinions may be biased; therefore, it may be detrimental to your case.

Do I Really Need a Lawyer For My Case?

It may seem shocking, but not everyone needs a lawyer who is filing a workers' compensation claim. It is possible that you may be able to file your workers' compensation claim without any legal assistance. Before deciding whether or not to file the claim by yourself, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who can guide you in the right direction. Oftentimes, personal injury lawyers will offer a free case evaluation to help you to determine the feasibility of your case. Keep in mind, the workers' compensation claims adjustors are NOT on your side and have your employers' interests in mind, so you should be as prepared as possible when handling your claim.

Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that you at least consult with a workers' compensation attorney so that they can give you some insight on how to handle your work injury claim.

Most Workers' Compensation Attorney's Fees are Contingency

Many workers' compensation attorneys do not charge an hourly fee or require a retainer to represent an injured worker. Lawyers often will charge their clients on a contingency fee basis.

Contingency Fee Agreements work best for injured workers, because you may not have money to pay a lawyer, even if you need one. A contingency based fee agreement means that you owe nothing until and unless your case is resolved by settlement or award from the workers' compensation commissioner. After your case is concluded, your attorney will take a portion of the amount of money that you are awarded.

Even if you think that you do not need a lawyer, you should go to a free consultation with an attorney to be sure. It was not your fault that you were injured while working, so why should you have to pay for the consequences? Hire a lawyer to help you get the compensation that you deserve.

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