New York Workers Compensation Lawyers

Workplace injuries can happen in an instant but can also have long-lasting impacts on people’s lives. When you are injured on the job, it is important that you properly document the incident and advocate for appropriate compensation. Check out the steps below to help you get through the days and weeks after an injury.

Seek Medical Attention

The first thing anyone should do following an injury is to seek medical attention. As soon as possible, you should see a physician for harm sustained at your place of work. If you fail to seek medical care within a reasonable timeframe, future worker’s compensation or court claims could be denied.

File an Incident Report

Immediately after you are injured, it is imperative that you file an official report with your employer. This could be the determining factor in future worker’s compensation claims being approved or denied by your employer’s insurance company. If your employer refuses to file a report, document your attempt to file it and contact a worker’s compensation attorney to help you decide how to move forward. Further, if your company has a human resources department, you should inform the appropriate person of your attempt at filing an accident report. For union employees, you should contact your union representative for information on how best to deal with this situation.

Document the Injury as Work-Related

When you seek medical care following a work-related injury, inform your physician that you were hurt at your place of business. Ask your doctor to note this in your chart so that there is no future confusion as to why you needed medical care that day. Without an official note from a physician describing your injury as work-related, insurance companies can sometimes get away with denying worker’s compensation claims. 

Retain Relevant Records

It is important to keep any documentation that could be used to support a lawsuit or worker’s compensation claim if you have been unable to work due to a work-related injury. This includes all medical records, missed days of work and any other relevant information. It can be helpful to create a physical or digital folder to keep this information together for quick reference. Additionally, photographs of the scene of the incident and your injuries should be kept and provided to your employer’s insurance company or your own attorney upon request.

Talking to experienced workers compensation lawyers in New York from a firm like Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. will help you understand if you are eligible for worker’s compensation benefits.