It isn’t uncommon for employees to get injured in the workplace. But no matter how bad their injury is, employees should shoulder their expenses in getting the treatments needed and compensate them for the trouble. But for those experiencing getting injured at work for the first time, what are the steps in getting paid for a slip-and-fall injury?
1. Report the Incident to the Employer
The first step for those who experienced a slip-and-fall injury is to report the incident to the employer right away. After all, it is the company's responsibility to provide a safe work environment for its employees. It ensures that they will not be held liable for any injuries sustained by the employee.
Generally speaking, every employee should report any incident that could cause injury to any company member. Reporting the incident immediately will help the company and the employees avoid unexpected incidents moving forward.
2. File a Workers' Compensation Claim
The second step for those who experienced a slip-and-fall injury is to file a workers’ compensation claim with their company. As mentioned earlier, workers’ compensation compensates an employee who was injured in the line of duty. For an employee injured in a slip-and-fall incident at work, this is the compensation the employee will receive. Workers’ compensation covers the injured employee for medical examinations and related treatments, rehabilitation services, and income loss. This compensation is tax-free.
3. Appeal a Workers' Compensation Denial
The employer could deny a workers’ compensation claim. The denial could be due to the injury not being work-related. In this situation, the employee doesn’t have to accept the rejection. Instead, the employee could appeal the decision by the company. It could be done by filing a workers’ compensation appeal.
Hiring an experienced workers’ compensation attorney is an excellent decision since they already have the resources to ensure the appeal will be successful. They are also aware of what documents are needed to prove the injury was work-related. This way, the employer will have no choice but to accept the appeal and compensate the employee for the damage.
4. Work with a Workers' Compensation Attorney
For those who experienced a slip-and-fall injury, working with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney right away is a must because of the nature of the injury, which could be very serious if left untreated. An experienced attorney would know how to handle a slip-and-fall injury, including what documents are needed to prove the injury was work-related.
Conclusion
A slip-and-fall injury is a serious incident that could have dire consequences if left untreated. The damage could also hurt an employee’s career and future income. To avoid these problems, the employees should report the incident to their employer as soon as possible. They should also immediately file a workers’ compensation claim.
Pacific Workers’ is a workers compensation law firm in the Bay Area, helping employees get the most out of their mishaps in the workplace. Our goal is to provide workers with compensation attorneys to help them deserve the compensation. Get started today and book an appointment with us right away 800-606-6999.