Many people probably don’t associate their work with injury risk, but sometimes people are hurt on the job. You don’t have to work in construction or a profession with a high risk injury to hurt yourself at work. Simple items like loose electrical wires, poorly lit areas, or old, uneven flooring can be the cause of a sprain or broken bone.
The consequences of a workplace injury can prevent you from working, cause painful injuries that take a long time to heal, and accumulate a pile of medical bills. If you’ve had a workplace accident, a West Virginia industrial accident lawyer from DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC can help. We understand what you’re going through and will do everything we can to get you the compensation you need.
What Do You Do If You’re Injured at Work?
If you want to make your industrial accident claim as strong as possible, then you need to do the following after your accident:
- See a Doctor. First, you need to take care of your health. The sooner you are medically treated for your injuries, the sooner you can recover. Your doctor will determine if you can work, oversee your treatment, and tell you when you can go back to work. Waiting for medical treatment could worsen your injuries and prevent you from getting full compensation. You’ll have to find out which health care providers are authorized by the Workers’ Compensation Board or go to the health care provider that’s participating in the Preferred Provider Organization if your company does that.
- Report It. Inform your manager or supervisor of the incident in writing within 30 days of the incident. Tell them how it happened and what the result was. Waiting can stop you from getting full compensation.
- Call an Industrial Accident Lawyer. Get in touch with an industrial accident attorney to help your claim. If you claim is denied, they can help you take your case to court.
What Payments and Benefits Can You Recover?
You may wonder what you are eligible for if you get injured at your job. Depending on your injury, you could possibly get the following:
- Disability Payments. There are temporary and permanent disability payments. People who are recovering from an injury can get temporary payments, but those with an injury that causes a permanent disability may not be able to return to work. Losing sight, use of a hand and feet, or has an illness that severely impairs someone will qualify for permanent disability.
- Medical Benefits. You can get medical benefits that covers your costs to recover from your work-related injury. Benefits can cover hospital and doctor visits, treatment, and medication. If your injury requires you to under rehabilitation to get your strength back, your medical benefits can cover this as well.
Workplace injuries can happen suddenly and leave you feeling confused about what to do next. An attorney will look out for your best interests and help you throughout the claims process. They’ll make sure you’ll get the benefits and compensation you deserve and that you don’t get an unfavorable settlement.
