What to Do if You're Injured During Your Manual Labor Job

Thanks to the regulations and safety precautions that have been put into place over the years, modern American workplaces are arguably safer than they have ever been. And yet, injuries still happen, especially in jobs that require a lot of manual labor. Fortunately for anybody who suffers an injury on the job, every state in the nation requires employers to carry worker’s compensation insurance to compensate injured employees.

That doesn’t mean that you can expect your employer to handle everything if you are injured at work. You still have a responsibility to keep yourself safe and make sure that you receive the compensation and treatment that is owed to you. With that being said, here are the steps you should take if you ever suffer a workplace injury.

Seek Medical Attention

The first and most important thing you should do whenever you suffer an injury is seek medical attention. Tend to your injuries with the first aid kit that your employer should have on site if you can. If you cannot, accept help from someone else. Go to the emergency room if your injuries are severe enough to require it, and make an appointment with your primary doctor to make sure there aren’t any problems that require further attention.

Let Your Employer Know

You should always alert your immediate supervisor when you suffer an injury on the job, preferably in writing. Some states actually require a written note for a worker’s compensation claim, but you should submit a report in writing regardless. It should be made very clear what happened to cause your injury. Your employers will notify their insurance carrier and submit a worker’s compensation claim.

Speak to an Attorney

Although your immediate medical expenses will be covered by worker’s compensation insurance, you may still be entitled to additional compensation if you’ve suffered a permanent injury or will be missing any work. Speak to an attorney who specializes in workplace injuries, such as Sackstein, Sackstein & Lee, LLP as soon as you can if this is the case. There is a statute of limitations when it comes to submitting a personal injury claim that varies from state to state, so don’t wait to contact an attorney who can help you.

Workplace injuries should never be taken lightly, especially when you have a manual labor job. Once you know that you are safe and you’ve received the proper medical attention, don’t hesitate to contact an attorney to find out if you can receive additional compensation.