If you were injured at work, you may be concerned about how to prove your employer was responsible for the injury. We're here to ease your concerns. You can get workers' compensation (workers' comp) without proving your employer did anything wrong. Workers' comp is state-approved insurance that provides benefits to employees injured while working. This coverage helps relieve some of the stress from your work injury or sickness.
You don't need to prove that someone did anything wrong or that work conditions were unsafe. However, there are other items you do need to prove before you can receive workers' comp benefits. You need to provide evidence about what happened, such as an accident report from your employer. Additionally, you need to provide medical records and bills. You may even need your employment records or counseling records. An attorney from Accident.com can help you find and build off that proof.
The only matter you have to prove is that your injuries happened at work. That injury may be a physical injury, like a broken bone, or a sickness, like black lung. The injury can also be a mental health problem, like PTSD.
If you've experienced any type of work-related injury, you should get the medical and mental health care you need as soon as possible. See a doctor right away, even if you don't think you're seriously hurt. A doctor can make sure you're healthy and safe, which is always the number one priority. Plus, the medical records will provide great evidence in your case so that you have a stronger claim to receive the support you need to fully recover.
After you get medical aid, reach out to an Accident.com attorney. They'll help you identify the best way to prove your injuries and get workers' comp benefits.
In your efforts to prove that your injury occurred at work, the following documents can bolster your claim:
Although you only have to prove that you were injured or got sick at work, gathering these documents to prove that can still be difficult based on your situation. An attorney from Accident.com can help.
Once you've proven your injuries, there are many types of workers' comp benefits you may receive. The most common benefits are:
It's important to note that you can get workers' compensation if you got hurt at work even if your employer took precautions to protect you, like safety and health programs or other training. Of course, while you should complete any said training and always try to stay safe, sometimes injuries happen that you have no control over. That's okay. That's what workers' comp is for.
If you're injured or you get sick from something at work, just report it to your supervisor and Human Resources department. You have to report your injury to your employer in order to receive workers' comp benefits. (Reporting to HR leads to them filling out the first report of injury form.) In fact, if you don't report it quickly enough, you can lose the benefits.
The purpose of workers' compensation programs is to protect both workers and their employers. Both parties “give up” something in order to have the stability of the program. For example, someone who was injured outside work can sue the responsible party for more types of damages, such as disfigurement and scarring.
However, work-related injuries don't qualify for money for permanent scarring or other non-monetary harms. In exchange, the employee doesn't have to prove that the employer did anything wrong. This is a big trade. It protects employers by limiting their liability, and it helps employees cover urgent medical care, wage loss and other large expenses.
Getting injuries or diseases from work can be stressful, challenging and frustrating. You may not know where to go next or how to move forward. Your first move should be to see a doctor. You want to make sure you're in good health, even if you think you're fine.
Accident.com is the next step. An attorney can work with you to prove that your injury or disease is work-related, allowing you to recover with peace of mind.
Workers' compensation varies by state though, so reach out to Accident.com today and speak with an attorney in your area.
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