Nobody in Cleveland arrives at work and expects to get hurt on the job. Yet workplace accidents happen a lot more often than you might think. And workplace accidents do not just happen at dangerous job sites like construction sites. Indeed, according to a recent article in Business Insider, some of the jobs with the highest fatality rates in the U.S. probably are not the ones you would expect. While logging, roofing, and truck driving remain some of the deadliest jobs in America, landscaping and grounds maintenance workers also have a high rate of job-related deaths, as do chauffeurs and air conditioning repair people. Those figures do not even take into account the broader range of professions where people routinely suffer injuries, including slips, trips, and falls or repetitive motion injuries in office spaces.
In other words, workplace injuries can occur almost anywhere. What should you do if you get hurt at work? Here is what you should do.
Document the Injury and the Place Where it Happened
Make sure you document the injury and the place where it occurred. Use your smartphone to take photos, and jot down any notes to yourself about the accident. For example, if you tripped and fell because of a piece of torn carpeting in your office, take photos of the area from multiple angles to show the scene. Similarly, if you were struck by falling debris at a construction site, make sure to take photographs of the worksite, showing that certain safety nets and other precautions were not properly installed. You should also write down the names of anyone who witnessed the accident in case I need to follow up with them.
Seek Medical Attention for the Injury
See a doctor as soon as possible to get a diagnosis and to be treated. You might not realize it, but many workers’ compensation claims are denied because the insurer does not have proof that the injury happened as the worker said it did. By visiting a healthcare provider almost immediately after the injury, the doctor can assess the injury and provide medical documentation about how the injury occurred.
Report the Injury to Your Employer
Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. Notifying your employer of the injury is an important step in the claims process.
Seek Legal Advice from an Ohio Workers’ Comp Attorney
You should seek legal advice from a Cleveland workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as you can. Depending upon the facts of your case, we will likely begin with a workers’ compensation claim, but it also may be possible to file a third-party claim against a negligent party responsible for your injuries.
Contact Me to Learn More About Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim or a Lawsuit
I have years of experience assisting employees with workers’ comp claims in Ohio, from the early stages of filing a claim to appealing a denial of benefits. And if a third party is responsible for your injuries, I can also work with you on a personal injury lawsuit. I can help you seek the compensation you deserve. No matter how your injury happened, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call me today at 877.944.4373 to learn more about your options.
