Having an accident is never ideal, especially when it happens at work, and you need to take time off. Being out of work can lead to loss of earnings and unnecessary stresses, which is why you should be entitled to compensation. However, you will need to provide evidence as to why it was your employer’s fault, which is what we will discuss below.
Report the Accident
We’re assuming that the accident has happened, and you’ve received first aid. If this is the case, you need to report the incident and make your colleagues aware, especially if you were working alone, and plan to claim worker’s compensation. If only your management team knows about the accident, the negligence is more likely to be covered up. Your company will have an accident book, whether it’s digital or physical. You need to record your accident, which will codify the incident and can act as evidence when claiming compensation.
Capture Evidence
If your accident was caused by employer negligence, it’s essential to capture evidence. As soon as the accident has happened, you should take photos and videos of the scene – have someone else do this if you’re incapable. By providing evidence to your labor union lawyer, you stand a good chance of winning a case against a dishonest employer – before location-based corrections are made. If you’re unsure of how many pictures and videos to take, it’s best to take “too many” because your lawyer will be grateful.
Medical Attention
Seek medical attention whenever you see fit, even if you feel well initially. Having a documented series of your symptoms will help you when it comes to claiming compensation and will prove that you’re not embellishing your injuries.
Journal All Symptoms
Your doctor will make notes about your medical conditions, but they might not be that thorough. Therefore, you should document your recovery by making notes of all of your injuries. In some cases, minor injuries during your first doctor’s visit will become more serious as time passes. Speaking of time, compensation cases can take years to resolve, by which time memories fade – your journal will support your verbal retelling.
Speak to Colleagues
When you are laid off from work because of injury, your employer will make efforts to improve the working environment, and then argue zero negligence. Therefore, you should speak to your colleagues and get them to document any changes to the working environment.
Record Losses and Expenses
The reason for making a compensation claim is to return your financial position to the same as it would have been before the accident. Therefore, you should make a note of any losses and accident-related expenses, which will help you avoid coming away with less than you deserve during the case.
Workplace injuries can leave you without pay but with large medical bills, which leaves you relying on compensation. From the moment you have your accident, you need to focus on recording evidence, which will include journaling medical symptoms, photographing the scene, and having a reliable colleague fight in your corner at work.
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