It’s one of those questions that we just don’t like to think about but like it or not, getting injured on the job happens.
In fact, it happens a lot. One only has to cast their eye over these statistics to see the facts in their full flow.
Unsurprisingly, we’re not going to talk about what to do at the minute the injury occurs. It’s at this time that you should be obtaining the relevant first aid and notifying your company.
Instead, it’s more in the aftermath. After all, getting injured on the job doesn’t just have repercussions for the here and now, but there’s also that lingering question of ‘what happens next?’.
Unsurprisingly, there isn’t really a universal answer to this as a lot of it depends on circumstances. Some of the variables that can impact this decision include.
- What type of injury have you sustained?
- Was the company at fault for your injury?
- Are you able to continue working at home?
- How long have you been with the company?
- What is your contract with the company?
- Where in the country are you based?
In truth, the list could go on. However, to give something of an overview of what your next steps should be, today’s guide has been put together.
Firstly, let’s return to the point about notifying your company that the injury has occurred. In some states, with New York being a prime example, you generally have to inform your employer in writing about the accident. This has to occur within 30 days, or you can, in some cases, lose any rights to compensation.
Of course, there are differences to the above. Not all injuries suffered at work are instant and if you have instead started to suffer from an occupational disease, you need to give notice within two years of knowing that your condition had been caused by work.
As well as the legal issues, you need to look into your own rehabilitation. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of “ifs” and “maybes” here. Depending on your circumstances your employer may have arranged some form of work injury rehabilitation scheme, which will provide you the therapy to get you into a position where you can resume carrying out your job. In other cases, you may have to organize this yourself, most probably through your own doctor.
In and amongst all this are your own personal finances. After all, depending on the nature of the incident and your contract, you might not be receiving a full salary. In most cases you will be, as you’re injured on the job, but it’s worth looking at all eventualities.
In these cases, we really would urge you to push forward with the paperwork and look into some form of compensation. This compensation can comfortably stretch into the six figures depending on what you have injured, so it’s well worth carrying out.
However, in general, this is a time where you should be looked after. You are injured carrying out a job, and the authorities make it their aim to look after these people. Making sure that you follow the official processes is something that can guarantee this happens.