You may not know what to do after a workplace injury. You are entitled to workers’ compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. You will need a Baltimore workers’ compensation lawyer to help you with the claim process.

It might not be easy to fight for your rights when worried about recovery. Also, if you fail to take specific actions, you might lose your right to compensation. This article explains the steps you will take after a workplace injury.

Contact Pinder Plotkin LLC if you or a loved one suffered injuries in a workplace accident.

Different Types of Workplace Accidents

Workplace accidents occur for different reasons and may result in mild or severe injuries. Therefore, even a seemingly safe work environment poses a risk of injury. If you sustained any workplace injuries, see a doctor.

The following are the different types of workplace accidents:

• Slips and falls
• Struck-by accidents
• Fire and explosions
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Overexertion injuries
• Struck against an object
• Repetitive motion injuries
• Assault and violent acts
• Exposure to dangerous substances in the environment

What You Should Do After a Workplace Injury

Accidents in the workplace happen all the time, regardless of safety precautions. Nobody likes to get wounded at work, especially if the injury is severe enough to necessitate medical treatment or force you to leave your job. Unfortunately, you might also be at a loss for what to do.

Here are the steps that must be followed after a workplace injury.

1. Call 911 or See a Doctor for Medical Treatment

Examine your injury first. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you or someone else may need to dial 9-1-1 so that emergency medical personnel can treat you right away and transport you to the hospital.

Even if you don’t think you were significantly hurt, it’s essential to consult a doctor after any workplace incident and let the doctor decide whether you need medical treatment.

Your employer may tell you to see a doctor of your choice, but this is valid for your first appointment. You can visit any medical practitioner you choose after this initial meeting. While the insurance may accept your choice of doctor, they may challenge some recommended treatments.

Ensure you follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter. Also, avoid activities that might aggravate your injuries, as the insurance company can deny or reduce your settlement. If you have any underlying illness or injury, ask your doctor to show there is no link between it and your workplace injury.

2. Report the Injury to Your Employer

It’s necessary to speak with your employer regardless of the severity of your injuries.   You must file a report 72 hours after a workplace injury, as you cannot collect your workers’ compensation unless you do so.

Let your employer know if you have any safety concerns when you speak with them. Your worries may motivate them to make improvements. In addition, they may be able to save someone else from an injury in the future due to the modifications they make.

After filing a report with your employer, they will commence the claims process with their insurance carrier. The insurance company will then investigate the case and pay you a settlement.

3. Gather Evidence

If possible, take photos of your injury as soon as possible after the accident. The doctor should do a thorough examination and take detailed notes on the severity of your injuries. Make sure they know it happened at work. If you don’t, it’s possible that it won’t be in the doctor’s letter, making it hard to link your wound to the workplace accident.

Keep track of how the accident happened and how you felt physically and emotionally in the days and weeks afterward. Also, track your doctor’s appointments, dates, and how much you spent on transportation to and fro the hospital. Your Baltimore workers’ compensation lawyer will also acquire additional evidence, like any video footage of the accident and eyewitness testimony.

4. File Your Claim

After a work-related accident, ensure your employer commences the claim process. If they don’t, do so and bring the case before the Maryland State Workers’ Compensation Commission.

You must prove that your work partly or totally caused your injuries. Some people, for example, develop back ailments over time by repeating the same motions. You may find it difficult to prove that a single occurrence caused your back discomfort. However, you can show that the issues began at work and grew worse over time.

Whether your injury happened gradually or due to an accident, you are entitled to compensation. Also, keep in mind that the work comp system is not fault-based. So it doesn’t matter whether you or your employer negligently caused the accident. The essential factor is that the wound or illness happened during your employment.

5. Hire a Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Contact an expert workers’ compensation attorney after a workplace injury. An experienced lawyer who has prior knowledge can help you win your case. In addition, a workers’ compensation attorney will be familiar with the laws and processes that apply to your claim.

Ensure that the lawyer you hire is authorized to practice law in Baltimore. They should also have a track record of success and be empathic to your case.

6. Track Your Expenses

It’s critical to keep track of everything after a workplace injury. Your notes can be used to help you create a worker’s compensation claim. First, keep track of the days you are absent from work.

Maryland work comp law allows injured employees to receive weekly wage replacement benefits. Once you have been absent from work for seven days, you’ll start getting payments.

Your worker’s compensation attorney will use these notes to determine your compensation after a workplace injury, especially if you demand a lump sum. Deciding on an amount would be difficult if you don’t track your expenses.

Get Expert Legal Representation From a Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

You have the legal right to file a claim after a workplace injury or if you developed an occupational illness. At Pinder Plotkin LLC, we have an experienced legal team that will help you with investigations so you get the compensation you deserve.

We will handle the entire process while you focus on recovering and rejoining the workforce. If your case requires filing a lawsuit, we will do so and represent you until you win. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning no upfront fees, so you don’t have to worry about getting legal representation. Contact us today for a free case review with an injury lawyer in Baltimore, Maryland.