Steps to Take When Injured on the Job
1. Tell someone at the management level at your place of employment immediately about the injury.
Do not take a “wait and see” approach. If you do not tell your employer within 30 days, you may lose your right to compensation. Notify your employer in writing about the injury including the nature of the injury, where and when it occurred and your name and address. You should keep a copy of the notice for your records. If your employer will not provide you with a form to notify them of the injury in writing, the Division of Workers’ Compensation has created a form which you may use to submit to your employer concerning the injury.
2. Ask your employer which doctor or hospital you should see for treatment. Under the Workers’ Compensation Law, your employer has the right to select which doctor or hospital treats your injury.
If you do not allow your employer to choose the doctor that treats you, then you will likely have to pay for the treatment yourself. When you go to the doctor or hospital that your employer chooses, you should inform them that your treatment is related to a work injury and billing should be directed to your employer or their workers’ compensation insurer.
3. Begin keeping a detailed journal.
To keep track of your injury and progress of recovery, you should keep a written log of the following information:
- Date and time of injury
- Where you were when the injury occurred
- What you were doing when the injury occurred
- Names of those who saw or witnessed the injury occur
- Who you reported the injury to and what they told you to do
- Names of the doctors, hospitals, and other facilities you see for treatment as well as the dates you see them
- What the doctors tell you about your condition
- Names of medications you are prescribed for the injury and any advice your doctor gives you for dealing with your injury
- A description of how you feel every day
- Note any pain, numbness, or tingling you experience due to the injury and its severity
- Mileage to and from any and all treatment that is outside of the local area from your home or principal place of employment
Any other information that you believe will be important later
4. Keep track of how much work you miss.
Sometimes doing this on a calendar specifically designated for your workers’ compensation claim is helpful and will remind you to do this on a daily basis.
Above all else, act promptly.
To protect your rights, report your injury and seek medical treatment as soon as possible.