There’s always the chance of suffering from an accident at work. Even if you work in the office, you can slip on something, get injured by falling objects, and countless other things.
Workplace accidents also happen more than you probably think. Reports show that there are more than 2.8 million accidents every year in the workplace. And of those accidents, slip and falls are among the most common.
It can be hard to deal with a slip and fall accident at the moment, so it pays to prepare yourself in case it ever happens. Below are the steps to take whenever you suffer from a slip and fall at work.
Get Medical Treatment
After suffering from a slip and fall at work, getting treated for your injuries is your number one priority. Get to a doctor as soon as possible to be sure you discover your initial problems.
Your employer may want you to visit a company doctor for insurance purposes at a later date, but don’t let this stop you from seeing your own doctor. You want to get an unbiased opinion about the scope of your injuries.
File a Report
Notifying your boss of your injury is the next step in this process. Reach out to your boss and let them know what happened. When you do, you’ll get some paperwork to fill out for the insurance company.
Here are a few things you’ll need to include in the report:
- Time and date of the accident
- Cause of accident
- Witnesses
- Scope of injuries
The more information you include, the better result you’ll have with the workers’ compensation claim.
Turn in Your Report
You won’t file your report directly with the insurance company. Instead, you’ll hand your claim back to your boss. They will be the ones to send the claim to the insurance company for processing.
Once you turn in your report, it turns into a waiting game. You won’t need to wait too long since insurance companies are required to answer quickly. Otherwise, you’ll win your claim by default.
Track Medical Expenses
You don’t have to sit idly by while waiting for the insurance company. Even if you get awarded a settlement, it won’t be up to date if you have more medical expenses and discover injuries while waiting.
Track your expenses and medical issues while waiting on your settlement result. You’ll take this information to the insurance company after they approve your claim to ensure you get the proper compensation.
Get Your Claim Results
In most cases, you won’t have an issue getting your settlement. You’ll get what you deserve and can get your medical issues taken care of.
But there may be some cases when you need legal help because the insurance company doesn’t play nice. Be sure to work with a workers compensation lawyer to get the compensation you deserve.
Handle Your Slip and Fall Accident Correctly
Not all slip and fall accidents are serious. You may get a bump and move on with your day. But there are some situations when you’ll suffer a more severe workplace accident and need to get help.
In these cases, you must understand how to deal with a slip and fall accident properly. Be sure to follow the steps above to ensure you get the help you need.
Check out the blog to learn more ways to handle workplace issues.
