Important things to do when you get hurt on the job.

When you get hurt on the job, you likely have the right to workers compensation benefits. However, you have to follow the rules, or you can jeopardize your protection. Here are a few things that are important to do to keep your right to this protection.

Reporting a work injury

First of all, report the injury to your supervisor. This is to be done immediately. Failure to provide prompt notice of injury can cause your claim to be rejected.  We recommend that you report the injury in such a way where you have proof that you reported the claim. In recent years, we have seen many employers who seem to get amnesia and don’t recall an employee reporting an injury.  Many large corporations base management compensation in part on keeping claim cost down. As such, we have seen some claims not get reported to the insurer. Being able to prove that you promptly reported the claim is vital, as the statute requires prompt notification to the employer.

Seek medical care if hurt at work

If your employer does not send you for medical care, you need to ask for treatment. Don’t go to the doctor on your own unless it is a potentially life-threatening situation. The employer is responsible for providing care on valid workers compensation claims, but they also get to pick the medical provider.   Going to an unauthorized medical provider could result in the claim for that treatment being rejected. Furthermore, most health insurance plans do not cover on-the-job injuries, so if you go to an unauthorized medical provider, you could end up paying the full cost of this treatment yourself. If your employer won’t provide medical care, give Carey & Hamner a call, and let us help you get the treatment you need and deserve.   

Should you go back to work following an injuy?

Unless you have an excuse from an authorized treating physician, go to work!  You don’t get paid for time off under workers compensation unless the company provided physician takes you off work or gives you restrictions that the employer can’t accommodate.  When the authorized treating physician takes you off work, you don’t immediately get paid for the first three days, but after that, you should be paid at the rate of 2/3rds of your average weekly wage. This is calculated based on the previous 52-week average.  

More tips for going back to work after workers compensation

View our simple guide to workers' comp in Alabama

Other things to consider after getting hurt at work

Be sure to fully understand what to do after a workplace injury and protect yourself by seeking legal representation. At Carey & Hamner, our attorneys have been helping injured workers for nearly twenty-five years. Give us a call at 334-673-1800 to schedule a free consultation.  There is no cost to you for our services until we recover for you.