If you are ever injured at work, there are some actions that you should definitely take in order to protect your interests. Here are five of the most important legal actions that you should perform.
1. Take Pictures
As soon as you can, take pictures of the scene where you were injured. Try to get as much in the pictures and can, and try to move as little as possible from the time that you were injured.
2. A Written Assessment
Write down a written assessment of the incident from beginning to end. The sooner that you do this, the more relevant that it will be in court. Make sure that you sign and date the assessment. It may be helpful to take a picture of it so that it will be time stamped inside of your smart phone as well.
3. The Police
If there is an injury on the scene, then a police officer should be called as soon as possible. You will need to exchange information with the officer on the scene and gain a copy of any reports that he or she generates from the incident.
4. Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
According to Kalamarides & Lambert, even if you believe that the accident is 100% not your fault, you will need a personal injury lawyer in order to present your case to the court. Remember that the judge was not on the scene; all that he or she will have to go on is the testimony from both sides as well as the evidence that you present. You can be sure that the opposition has hired lawyers whose sole purpose is to minimize the payout that you receive. You need people on your side with the same experience.
5. Checking Insurance Packages
Check your insurance packages as soon as possible to see exactly what you will receive from your employer as well as any personal insurance that you may have. You should bring this information to your personal injury lawyer – they may be able to help you subsidize your recovery if there is some portion of your life not covered.
An injury on the job is certainly an unwanted emergency. However, there is no reason that it has to be an emotional and financial burden. If you follow the steps above, you will grease the process of returning your life to normal and receiving the compensation that you deserve from the legal system.
This article is from Lizzie Weakley, a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. She enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her three-year-old husky Snowball.
