Many hard-working people in New Jersey depend on the safety of their jobs to earn a living. Unfortunately, a safe workplace isn’t always guaranteed. If you experience an injury at work, there’s a set of steps you should follow. Here’s a quick walk-through of the workers’ compensation process.
Report your injury
The first thing to do after a workplace injury occurs is to report it. Sometimes, workers neglect this step because they don’t want to miss out on hours. Other people might not report a workplace injury because they fear retaliation from their employer. However, you must report a workplace injury. This report also acts as documentation that your injury occurred.
Seek medical attention
Injuries in the workplace can happen in a variety of ways. Even if you suspect that your injuries are minor, it’s still advisable to seek medical attention. Receiving a check-up from a medical professional lets you know the next steps in your recovery process. You’ll also receive further documentation of your injuries, which is important in the workers’ compensation process.
Keep accurate records
While it might not seem so, keeping accurate records is an imperative step in any workers’ compensation claim. As you’ll soon learn, this process can involve a lot of paperwork from your employer, medical facilities, and insurance providers. Losing even one document could turn your claim into a nightmare. Properly storing your records can help you avoid many potential claim-related headaches.
No two workers’ compensation claims are the same. However, this process requires the injured party to complete a few extremely important steps. Completing these steps also helps prevent issues from holding up any potential damages.