Everyone wants to become an entrepreneur, but do you think people ready for it? Running a business comes with oodles of responsibilities. From overseeing finances, recruiting people, handling marketing, to ensuring a safe workplace – it is hard to manage things. Although it is challenging to prioritize responsibilities, there is one thing business owners should never put on the backburner – employee safety.
With increasing workplace injuries and accidents, it is high time for employers to address this concern. Injuries risks might differ from industry to industry, but every company should take adequate measures to avoid them in the workplace. Believe it or not but falling victim to an accident or physical injury at the workplace is overwhelmingly distressful. It leaves employees wondering what to do next – how to foot medical bills, who to call for help, etc.
Have you ever had a physical injury at the office or on-site? If yes, then we have something for you. Instead of letting it go, we can assist in how to take action. Here are five things you must do when you have had a physical injury at the workplace.
1. SEEK LEGAL HELP
Undoubtedly, most employers are negligent when it comes to workplace safety. They only care about finishing tasks, improving productivity, and ensuring profit maximization. And if something comes between their goals – workplace accidents, they hand over a compensation check and get away with it. As people are more mindful of their rights, you don’t have to settle for a hill of beans. Therefore, seek legal help and make the negligent party pay for their deeds.
If you are residing in Colorado, look up for Aurora, CO, personal injury lawyer to represent your case. These lawyers will put their best foot forward while negotiating with the employer to work in your best interests. Simultaneously, the attorney would make a separate clause for workplace safety, ensuring no other employee gets to suffer. Even though pursuing a personal injury claim takes time, it is way better than settling for pennies.
2. FOCUS ON YOUR INJURY
Unfortunately, physical injuries can be disturbing, especially if the injured areas are bleeding severely. You can head over the workplace’s first-aider or ask your colleagues to call an ambulance. Excessive blood loss can be life-threatening, so make sure you are not delaying the hospital visit. However, if you believe the injury is minor, it is still imperative to get medical help.
You might think it is a minor sprain, but small injuries sometimes become lifelong conditions without proper treatment. Therefore, get a full assessment of damages without worrying about the medical bills since your employer’s headache.
3. INFORM YOUR EMPLOYER
If your manager wasn’t present at the moment when you got injured, inform them about it. Follow the accident reporting protocols and write an email to the manager if you are not physically fit to talk. In worse cases, managers have a legal obligation to report the accident to health and safety executives. Some employees are fearful of their job security due to which they don’t report accidents to upper management. At the same time, others don’t want managers to blame them for the injuries.
It is best to inform the manager under any circumstances as they will appoint solicitors who will assess who was responsible for the workplace accident. They hold expertise in apportioning liability for physical injuries while ensuring the negligent party pays rightful compensation.
4. GATHER EVIDENCE & WITNESSES
Since you are making a compensation claim, it is crucial to defend yourself from false accusations. Even if you are not lying, no one would believe until you have evidence and witnesses. Hence, start working as a crime scene investigator and gather some evidence. You can take pictures of the accident location or request the CCTV footage if there are cameras around the accident location.
Likewise, if there was anyone who saw the accident, ask them to become your witness. Alongside this, keep records of all your medical bills and losses to determine the compensation amount. After all, every piece of evidence counts, helping you get equitable compensation.
5. EVALUATE LEAVE POLICIES
Usually, the time off under the family and medical leave act – FMLA runs with compensation leave. Thus, it reduces the period during which an injured employee is absent from work. If your employer is taking advantage of this, refer to the occupational safety health act – OSHA. Evaluate the medical certifications from practitioners regarding the rest period and email the documents to your employer.
Moreover, your attorney will evaluate all the sick pay policies after checking it with your contract. If it says, the employee will receive full pay if, on sick leave, they can legally ask the employer. Otherwise, they can help you with statutory sick pay – SSP. It is not as high as a living wage, but enough to help you make through this tough time.
FINAL WORD
Unsurprisingly, workplace injuries happen, especially when employees are working on-field. It is the reason why laws and authorities are trying to ensure safety while offering compensation. Take speedy action if you are a victim of an accident or physical injury in the workplace. It has happened to you, which means it can also happen to anyone. Therefore, seek legal help, gather evidence, and confront the negligent party.
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