You can do everything in your ability to protect yourself from an accident. However, that’s not always enough. There are factors outside of your control that you cannot change, which can lead to an accident. Whether you are driving your car or motorcycle on the highway, visiting someone else’s property, or at work, accidents can and do happen. The latter is often a difficult situation for many people. After all, a workplace accident typically occurs at the place where you make a living.
It may feel strange and might even feel like you are betraying your coworkers by seeking legal action after suffering an injury on the job. However, depending on the injury sustained, the wages lost, and the lack of safety precautions taken in your workplace, taking legal action may not just help you, but it may protect other workers in the future.
Taking legal action following a workplace accident can be difficult, as often employees who are injured already have some bias preventing them from realizing how much of an impact this accident has on their life. That is why it is so important to have the aid of a trusted workplace accident attorney on your side. They will be able to help you navigate these legal situations to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. If you suffered an injury in a workplace accident, contact the team at Wormington & Bollinger today.
Defining a Workplace Accident
As you can infer by its name, a workplace accident is an accident that occurs at your place of work. These accidents are often sudden and cause harm to an employee, ranging from minor to severe. Here are some crucial workplace accident statistics:
- A worker suffers an injury on the job every seven seconds
- 4,600,000 workers suffer an injury on the job every year
- In 2017, work-related injuries caused a loss of 104,000,000 production days
- 33.54% of injuries are the result of overexertion
- 26% of injuries are the result of contact with objects and equipment
- 25.8% of injuries are the result of slips, trips, and falls
Some of the most common workplace accidents are:
- Repetitive motions and muscle strains
- Slip, trips, and falls
- Hit by a falling object, either structure, equipment, or material
- Hit by moving equipment
- Cuts or lacerations
- Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
- Inhaling toxic fumes
- Collisions
Workplace accidents can occur in any line of work. Even those working in desk jobs are susceptible to workplace accidents. It is the responsibility of your employer to ensure that your workspace is safe to operate in. When they fail to do so, and injuries occur, you may be liable for compensation. You should always contact an attorney following a workplace accident.
What to Do After an Accident
As we have already stated, even if you take all the necessary precautions, accidents can still happen. When you are in the workplace, it is the responsibility of your employer to ensure that your work environment is safe for all employees. However, this standard of duty is often not met, which leads to disastrous results. If you suffer an injury in a workplace accident, you must be careful with your next steps to ensure you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve. Wormington & Bollinger is here to help make sure you take the correct steps.
Receive Medical Attention
The first step in any accident, regardless if it’s a workplace, car accident, or slip-and-fall accident, is to assess the extent of the injury. Far too often, employers will try to convince you that your injury is not nearly as bad as it seems and ask you not to seek further medical assessment. However, you should always seek medical attention, even if your injury seems minor. Many injuries often take days or weeks before they become noticeable problems. The only way to treat them in time is to get them diagnosed right away. Not only will seeking medical attention right away help you get the treatment you need, but it will also ensure that these injuries are properly documented.
Report the Accident to Your Employer
Your safety should be your main priority following any workplace accident. Once you have sought medical attention for your injuries, you should always report this accident to your employer quickly. If you are unable to due to the nature of your injuries, have a coworker or family member do so on your behalf. Failing to report your accident quickly can jeopardize your ability to successfully claim worker’s compensation.
Document
Once you have received medical attention, inspect the scene of the accident, and document any vital piece of information that may strengthen your case. Try answering these questions:
- What caused the accident?
- Was the floor slippery or not properly maintained?
- Were OSHA safety standards met?
- Were there any witnesses?
- Could the accident have been easily prevented?
- Were objects in the line of walking that should not have been there?
- Is the risk still there, and has it always been there?
These are just a handful of questions you can answer to help your case. Try to take photographs of the scene and any potential hazards.
If you missed time at work due to injuries, document your time off. If your injuries caused you to miss over seven days of work, you are eligible to receive Texas Workers’ Comp. Document any time you had to miss so that you may be able to receive benefits.
Once you’ve received medical care, you will likely have to follow a treatment plan. Continue to follow through with this treatment and document any expenses and treatments you have gone through.
Contact an Attorney
Even after following all these steps, navigating a workplace accident can be difficult, especially as you might be recovering from injuries. While Texas Workers’ Compensation laws aim to protect and favor all employees, often employers and insurers do not always match this standard of duty. They may try to deny your claim, deny you benefits, or try to force you back to work before you have recovered from your injuries.
Receiving the aid of a trusted workplace accident lawyer ensures that you have someone who understands the laws surrounding workplace accidents and workers’ compensation laws. They will fight to ensure you receive the compensation and benefits you deserve. If you suffer an injury in a workplace accident, contact Wormington & Bollinger today.