Did you know that in the United States in 2020, emergency rooms treated approximately 1.8 million workers who suffered injuries at work? That equates to about 4930 reported injuries per day!
An injury is work-related if an act or incident in the workplace contributed to it; alternatively, it significantly worsened a pre-existing illness or injury.
Many people take a carefree, “all in a day’s work” attitude toward the unexpected and unanticipated. This attitude should never apply to suffering a workplace injury. It might be challenging to know what to do when you’re injured at work.
Knowing what to do after a work-related injury and obtaining help can make all the difference. This guideline will help you acquire the help and compensation you need to get back on track.
What Qualifies as a Work Injury?
Because every workplace is unique, so too are the potential occupational injuries. Therefore, despite Georgia’s no-fault system, it is essential to know what constitutes a “workplace injury.”
First, let’s understand what a no-fault statutory system is. A no-fault statutory system is one where you can still get compensation even if you accidentally cause your injuries.
A workplace injury occurs when you are hurt while performing an activity while working. This includes any workplace accidents, for example, slipping and falling while walking from your lunch break. This often covers the general location of your workplace, such as the parking lot and communal areas.
This will undoubtedly be covered if you’re out of the office for work-related reasons, such as seeing a client or making a delivery.
But worker’s compensation is not likely to pay for injuries that happen on the way to a fixed worksite, like the office. Also, your employer is not responsible if you get into an accident on the way to and from work.
However, you will be covered if you are in an accident while driving a company car to visit a client. This is because it falls within the scope of your job.
What Are Common Injuries at Work?
An injury at work is when you get hurt or hurt yourself while doing something your employer wants you to do. This includes injuries caused by:
Lifting heavy things
Slipping on a potential danger that hasn’t been cleaned up, like a spillage
Spraining or straining muscles from doing the same thing over and over, like packing boxes
Injuries can happen just by doing the job or through something unexpected, like being hit by a falling object. Some common injuries at work are:
Musculoskeletal ailments such as sprains, chronic joint or muscle injuries
Cuts and wounds
Burns, fractures, and breaks
Psychological damage
The most common injuries at work are sprains, strains, or tears. There were 327,650 of these cases in the U.S. in 2019.
If You Get An Injury at Work – What Do You Do?
If you get injured at work, you have some legal rights. Follow the steps below to get the assistance you need and all the benefits to which you are entitled.
Get Medical Treatment
After any workplace injury, the first step you should take is to seek medical attention. To start, first-aiders are the ideal individuals to go first.
Workplaces should have a designated first-aider. Following this, you should consult an emergency room if the injury is more severe than a minor cut or twisted ankle.
Report the Injury
If you’re hurt at work, notify your manager. In addition, you must report any work-related accidents to your employer. Once notified, they must notify their insurance provider.
Get a Full Assessment From An Authorized Doctor
Next, see an authorized doctor to check all existing and possible injuries. This helps you understand your injuries and how to treat them and establishes a record and official injury report.
Consult a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
If you are unsure, speak with a professional. The insurers aim to payout as minimally as possible. Therefore, it is in your best interest to get advice. If you’ve been hurt at work, getting legal counsel will help you understand your rights and determine whether you have a compensation case.
Having a specialized Personal Injury lawyer on your side increases your chances of obtaining benefits, such as lump sum awards, that you weren’t even aware you were entitled to.
What If I Caused the Injury?
Making a mistake is simple, whether tripping over if you’re not paying attention or injuring your back by lifting something incorrectly. Even if you think you might be in the wrong, you probably still qualify to file a claim.
Georgia has a no-fault system for workers’ compensation, so if you get hurt at work, you can file a claim no matter who was to blame.
Although not required, seeking legal counsel from a professional is a practical step to ensure you are fully aware of your options and entitlements.
Can I Claim For a Mental Injury?
Psychological injuries at work are less evident than physical ones but no less serious. Work-related mental injuries might be hard to verify. Injuries can include symptoms such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety are injuries.
However, psychological injuries must arise from a physical work injury. These considerations can make seeking compensation challenging, but an expert lawyer can help establish a case.
Injured While Remote Working?
Working from home increased during the pandemic due to advantages such as less commuting, flexible work arrangements, and the chance to wear pajamas all day!
Working at home is still work. So, if you’re injured while working from home, you’re still protected. However, it will be trickier to prove or claim compensation.
Notify your company, seek medical care, see an authorized doctor, retain records, and consult a workers’ compensation lawyer to ensure you know and can obtain your full benefits.
Get Compensation You Deserve!
Although you may feel indestructible, any one of us is at risk of sustaining an injury on the job. Any moment of distraction or misfortune can spell instant doom.
If this happens to you, consider the above suggestions. This will aid you in recovering from the incident and getting back to work in a healthy manner.
If you get injured on the job and take the time to document the incident, gather proof, and file a worker’s compensation claim, you can rest assured that you won’t have to worry about paying for medical bills or lost wages.
Contact us today for legal counsel if you have sustained injuries at work.
