In some cases, a workplace slip-and-fall injury might not lead to you having to deal with any major health issues. You may not need to look into hiring a slip-and-fall injury lawyer if you only sustain a few minor bumps and bruises during an accident at work.
However, not all slip-and-fall injuries turn out this way. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly half a million Americans are injured during slips, falls, and trips each year — and many sustain serious injuries. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, soft tissue injuries, nerve damage, and hip fractures are several examples.
If you were badly hurt during a workplace accident involving a slip and fall, make sure you know your rights in its aftermath. See what you’re entitled to after sustaining this type of injury below.
The Right To Report a Workplace Slip-and-Fall Injury to Your Employer
Almost three million American workers are hurt at work every year — but believe it or not, that number might be significantly higher if not for workers who fail to report injuries for one reason or another. Studies have suggested workers don’t always go through with reporting workplace slip-and-fall injuries for the following reasons:
- They worry about it affecting their job status and possibly leading to unemployment.
- They think it could earn them a negative reputation among those who work for their company.
- They suspect reporting the injury they sustained could put them in the middle of a time-consuming claims process.
- They don’t have faith in a company’s ability to respond to an accident accordingly and make the situation right.
- They trust their company to hear about their accident through the grapevine and make the necessary changes to prevent future accidents.
Whatever the reason, you should try not to allow a fear of reporting the injury you sustained to stop you from doing it. If you don’t let anyone know about it, you’ll give up many of the rights you maintain after a workplace slip-and-fall injury.
Contact our team today so we can fight to help you get the compensation you deserve.
The Right To Seek Medical Attention for Your Workplace Slip-and-Fall Injury
Part of why you should always report a workplace slip-and-fall injury is to establish a connection between the injury and any adverse conditions on the job that led to it. The sooner you can see a doctor about a work-related injury, the more difficult it becomes for your employer to attribute it to something else.
If you wait too long to see a doctor about a workplace injury, there is a chance your employer might claim you sustained this injury elsewhere and are simply trying to blame it on work. You can prevent this from happening by reporting the injury immediately and seeing either:
- A doctor who has gotten approval from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy
- An independent doctor
Save any medical records you receive following doctor’s appointments, and hang on to any medical bills you’re sent, too. These pieces of evidence may come in handy when filing a workers’ compensation claim or a slip-and-fall lawsuit.
The Right To File a Workers’ Compensation Claim After a Workplace Slip-and-Fall Injury
Many employers carry workers’ compensation insurance policies for when their employees sustain workplace slip-and-fall injuries and other types of injuries. Employers pay 100% of workers’ compensation premiums so that employees can collect the compensation they need to cover medical expenses and benefits when they file successful claims.
File a workers’ compensation claim through your employer as soon as possible. The majority of workers’ compensation claims are approved in the U.S., but you might have a claim denied if you:
- Fail to report an injury in a timely fashion
- Forget to include medical records with a claim
- Neglect to go through with the evidence-gathering process
Acting quickly when filing a workers’ compensation claim and providing the necessary evidence to back it up can increase your chances of having it approved.
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The Right To Take Legal Action Following a Workplace Slip-and-Fall Injury
If you sustained a workplace slip-and-fall injury and believe your employer caused it by failing to maintain safe working conditions or ignoring warnings about hazards that you and other employees were subjected to, employer liability might come into play. In this case, you may have the right to take legal action against an employer or a third party who exhibited negligence during your accident.
If you want to go in this direction, discuss your workplace slip-and-fall accident case with an experienced personal injury lawyer. This slip-and-fall lawyer can explain your rights further and let you know if filing a lawsuit against your employer or a third party is possible.
Call 888-340-7454
The Right To File a Disability Claim
Is a workplace slip-and-fall injury going to leave you temporarily or even permanently disabled? If so, you may want to take advantage of the right to file a disability claim.
Your disability classification will play a huge role in determining which type of claim you can file. Those with temporary disabilities may need to file claims through short-term disability insurance companies. Those with permanent disabilities, on the other hand, should look into applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
This is yet another area in which a slip-and-fall lawyer can help you decide on the appropriate action to take. The severity of your injury and the evidence you present may dictate how successful your disability claim is in the end.
Speak With a Slip-and-Fall Injury Lawyer About Your Workplace Accident
A workplace slip-and-fall injury can sideline you for days, weeks, or months at a time. This type of injury can even put you out of work for good by preventing you from being able to physically do your job moving forward.
Let Accident Hotline connect you with established slip-and-fall attorneys who can lend a hand with building a premises liability case. Kickstart the process as soon as you can to avoid missing important deadlines that can derail a workplace injury claim.
Contact us by calling 888-340-7454 today to find the right slip-and-fall lawyer in your area to represent you.
For a free consultation, call 888-340-7454
