Having an accident at work can be a nightmare. Your injury itself might impact your ability to keep an income going, but there might also be hostile feelings between yourself and others you work with. That can all be before the paperwork even starts. Still, you need to know what records should be kept when you have an accident at work.
Mileage
The miles you have to cover for doctor appointments, hospital visits, prescription medication purchases, and physical therapy are all potential wear and tear on your car and use fuel. Make sure you know how much is actually being spent so you might get it back.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Depending on your health insurance, you might wind up facing a considerable amount of expenses you pay for out of your own pocket due to an accident. If you want to be compensated for this money later, you need to be able to prove the actual expenses with supporting documentation. Any hospital, doctor, or other bills as a result of your injury should be kept.
Time Off
You might use sick days or even paid vacation days from your employer to recover from your accident. However, make sure that your own tracking of these days aligns with their records so you get paid what you are due but also not conned out of benefits you might be entitled to.
Reports and Forms
This starts with actual accident reports and doctor reports, but it should also include claim forms and acceptance or denial letters. For that matter, any correspondence with your workplace employer or any insurance company also needs to be maintained. Also, any work site accident attorney that you might wind up using could also use contact information from actual or potential witnesses.
Pain Journal
A daily or even hourly pain journal might not help you get compensation for pain and suffering if you aren’t entitled to such damages. However, if you are, then such a document can help others gauge how much pain you are in. At the very least, a pain journal always helps others understand how much a worksite accident has impacted your quality of life.
Workplace accidents can result in compensation of various kinds, but the cases are usually won by those who have the paper trail to prove or support their claims. Knowing what records you should keep after a workplace accident improves your standing in any conflicts or disputes that might arise.
Author information: Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on Twitter: @RachelleWilber
