Helping Injured Workers Since 1981

4 steps to take after a workplace injury in Ohio

On Behalf of | May 30, 2022 | Workers' Compensation

Workplace injuries happen every day in Ohio, and your injury does not have to derail your career progress or damage your finances. If you take the right steps when you get hurt on the job, you can get benefits that will help you during recovery and also protect your career.

Understanding what to do immediately after you get hurt is important. You need to know before an injury takes place, or you will be at a disadvantage and could make mistakes that could compromise your rights. How do you protect yourself after an injury at work? 

Tell your employer right away

Especially if you need to leave to seek medical treatment, you need to formally notify your supervisor or manager about the incident and the impact on your body. Creating internal records of your injury on the job will be crucial to your right as you seek benefits later.

Undergo a medical evaluation

To successfully file a workers’ compensation claim, you will need proof of a medical condition related to your job. You need to have a doctor diagnose you and then recommend treatment so that you can get back to work. They can also provide a letter outlining restrictions that may apply to your job responsibilities until you recover from your injury.

File a workers’ compensation benefits claim

After someone gets hurt or dies on the job, the people affected have only a year to file a workers’ compensation claim. The sooner you submit the necessary paperwork, the sooner you qualify for total medical coverage to pay treatment costs and disability benefits that can pay as much as two-thirds of your average weekly wage. 

Follow the medical recommendations

Whether your doctor tells you you need to take a month off of work to rest the affected body part, undergo surgery or complete a physical therapy regimen, you have an obligation to follow through with their recommendations.

If you fail to do so, the insurance company could eventually use your failure to follow medical recommendations to blame you for your condition’s ongoing symptoms and deny you medical coverage or disability benefits.

Ensuring that your employer supports you by accommodating the restrictions on your job responsibilities is also important for your recovery. When you follow the right steps after getting hurt at work, you’ll have the best chance of claiming workers’ compensation benefits and fully recovering from your injury. Having a plan in place in case you ever need workers’ compensation benefits for a job injury will make it easier for you to take the right steps if you do get hurt at work.