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An injury at work can derail your career and your life. Legal recourse is available after such unfortunate incidents. However, the steps you take in the immediate aftermath of your injury shape your fate.
Here’s our New Jersey personal injury attorney’s guide to action after suffering an injury at work.
Step 1: Document the Incident
If you are capable of using pen and paper or typing, document the incident. Write or type out exactly what occurred. If your arms, hands, or fingers are injured, use your smartphone to make an audio recording of the details of the accident while it is still fresh in your head for future reference. If your injuries are visible, take pictures and a video recording of them using your smartphone.
Step 2: Report the Injury to Human Resources
File a written report with Human Resources at your workplace to fully document the injury through formal procedure. Detail the injury, including the day, time, activity that caused the pain, and other relevant information. Write down the sequence of events that occurred before, during, and after the injury to paint a clear picture.
Tell the truth when reporting the injury to HR. File the report within 24 hours of the injury, state the facts and you’ll maximize your chances of obtaining worker’s compensation benefits.
Step 3: Take Witness Statements
If anyone witnessed the injury, ask them to make a statement in writing or verbally using your smartphone’s video and audio recording feature. Make sure the witnesses explain exactly what they saw as every last detail helps support your claim. Be sure to add the date of the witness statement including witness names and contact information.
Step 4: Visit the Doctor as Soon as Possible
Meet with your primary care physician or emergency medical care provider for prompt assistance. Immediate treatment will help minimize the pain and expedite recovery so you can return to work. Moreover, your doctor’s formal medical report will help prove the injury is legitimate and causally related to workplace activities.
Step 5: Rest and Recuperate
Take some time to rest your injured body. Rest gives your body a chance to heal. Take your time while recuperating, eat healthy foods, get plenty of sleep and you’ll be on the fast track to a return to work.
Step 6: Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in New Jersey
The worker’s compensation and personal injury avenues of legal recourse are complex. Do not assume you can navigate these mazes on your own. The guidance of a legal advisor simplifies and expedites the filing of a worker’s compensation claim.
Your attorney will also help determine if it is in your interest to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is the assistance you need to obtain the financial compensation, medical care, and additional support necessary to rebound from this unfortunate incident.
Learn More During a Consultation With Our New Jersey Personal Injury Attorneys
Have you suffered an injury at work? Even if the injury is minor, take it seriously as it might worsen in the days and weeks ahead. Our personal injury attorneys in New Jersey are here to help. Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation.