Workplace injuries are unavoidable. If you get injured at work, you may want to know what you can do to pay for your injuries. In that case, you must know what steps to take to get help and claim your workers’ compensation law. Also, understand when you need the help of a professional workers’ compensation lawyer in Oakland. Note that workers’ compensation doesn’t cover every type of injury or illness. So, you need to understand how it works before you claim it.

Steps You Take When You Get Injured at a Job

Injuries in the workplace are common. Though in most cases, employers can’t do anything to protect you, companies have workers’ compensation that you can claim. But to get the employee compensation, you need to have proof of injury and do a few things when you get injured. Here are the steps that you need to follow when you get injured.

Reports Your Injuries Immediately

Whether it is a slip, trip, fall, or bone injury, it’s important to immediately inform your supervisor or manager. This protects you and helps you get workers’ compensation. It will also improve your safety because the employer is responsible for taking concrete steps to help with your injuries.

Also, if your workplace has a union, you need to contact them and discuss the incident. Don’t go home or hospital until you report your injuries to show that it was a workplace injury.

Seek Medical Care

If your employer is taking you to the hospital, then it’s good. But if not, then get medical care as soon as possible. Once you reach a medical institution, you will know how much the medical will cost you and whether your employer covers the treatment.

Ask for Company’s Injury Report

You can ask your manager or employer to give you the company’s injury report and fill it out properly. Make sure to add every detail about your injury and incident. Also, get a copy of this injury report for your record so you can prove later that you have done everything from your side.

Keep a Written Diary of the Injury

It’s important to note details about your injuries, what has caused them, what type of injury you experienced, and how your employer handled the situation. Noting these things will help you in case you forget details later. This way, you will be able to prove that your injuries have occurred in the workplace.

Get Workers’ Compensation

Once you follow these steps, your employer will approve your workers’ compensation. Your medical bills will be covered in a few days based on the situation. If your employer refuses to give you workers’ compensation, you can hire a reliable workers comp attorney in Oakland, CA, to fight for your right.

What Will Happen If You Don’t File The Claim?

There is a possibility that the injury you experienced doesn’t look severe and your pain was initially bearable. Therefore, you don’t feel that you should report it. But taking things lightly can cost you significant money.

Chances are that you may require costly medical treatment for the injury in the long run if you experience any internal injuries or your pain gets severe. In this case, when you haven’t reported your injuries to your employer or manager, you will not receive the compensation to cover your medical bills. And if you manage to get it, it will not be easier. You will struggle to convince your employer that the injury you have sustained occurred in your workplace.

So, it is crucial to report your work-related injury, whether mild or severe, to the concerned body. Another thing you can do when your company refuses to cover your bills is to take help from coworkers. Your colleagues are likely to witness the incident. They can tell your employer how you had the injury to support your claim. And if you cannot convince your employer, you need to hire an Oakland, CA, workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you in this case.

A workers’ compensation attorney can help you deal with the challenges in the process. They will use the laws and company policies to help you get immediate medical assistance. An attorney will work hard to protect your right and you from unfair treatment by your insurer, manager, or employer.

What Benefits Are You Entitled To?

Workers’ compensation covers all your medical expenses for diagnosing and treating workplace illnesses or injuries, including prescriptions, doctor appointments, durable medical equipment, and surgery. Employees can also claim vocational rehabilitation benefits if they cannot return to work.

Generally, the benefit amount is around two-thirds of an employee’s weekly wages. Additionally, there are four types of disability benefits that you will receive based on your condition.

  • Temporary Total Disability

  • Temporary Partial Disability

  • Permanent Partial Disability

  • Permanent Total Disability

Here are some injuries that you can cover through workers’ compensation:

  • Repetitive motion injuries

  • Falls

  • Back injuries

  • Slips

  • Motor vehicle incident (only if you are engaged in work-related business)

Bottom Line

Do you live in Oakland, CA? Then, you have the right to claim workers’ compensation if needed. However, many people make mistakes and avoid taking quick steps to get compensation. Some of them wait to get healthy enough to deal with the reporting process of injuries.

But this only reduces your chances of receiving the compensation. Now that you know the steps to follow when you get injured don’t wait for the right moment and report your injury then and there.

If you need the help of an Oakland, CA, workers’ compensation attorney, you can contact Latimer Law. We are the leading experts in the industry and have helped hundreds of workers who face challenges in covering their medical bills. You can call us at 510-444-6555 or book a free consultation and visit our workers’ compensation law center in Oakland for further guidance.