Sustaining an injury at work can be extremely stressful. When your livelihood is at stake you want know that you are covered if something unforeseen was to occur. It is vital that your follow the necessary steps after the incident to ensure you get paid. Here is what you need to do if you get injured at work.
Seek medical treatment
The very first thing you should do if you get injured at work is seek first aid within your workforce or medical treatment immediately. You will then need to obtain a work capacity certificate from your health care provider. You will need to complete any diagnostic tests that are required. All medical treatment expenses, including tests, medication and rehabilitation will be covered by your employer or their insurance unless your case is rejected. You may be required to sign documentation that will make you liable for your medicals costs if you choose to withdraw the compensation claim against your employer.
Tell your employer
Once you have sought out the appropriate medical attention, you will then need to advise your employer of your injury and give them your work capacity certificate. You must put the incident and the events leading up to it in writing and fill out an incident report, make sure you keep a copy for yourself. It is a good idea to do this as soon as you can after the incident.
Lodge your claim
Once you have completed the steps mentioned above, you will need to lodge your claim and your work capacity certificate to WorkCover Queensland. If your employer is self-insured, you will need to notify them as soon as possible to start the claim process. Employers should possess the necessary injury at work paperwork and offer it you if an incident occurs. You can also get all necessary claim forms from the healthcare provider such as the hospital or doctor’s office. If you are not given these forms, contact WorkCover Queensland to get the suitable paperwork. Employers do not have to start providing their employees work compensation until the form has been done. Therefore, it is important to get the forms lodged quickly to prevent delays with your payment. Ensure that you and your employer both date and sign the form and retain a copy for your own record.
Speak with a lawyer
Each workers compensation situation is different, and you may benefit from having a lawyer look over your case. Compensation and personal injury lawyers specialise in injury at work cases and can offer helpful advice in relation to your claim. If you are having issues with your employer paying your claim or if you would like some information regarding your workers compensation, a lawyer will be able to assist. If your claim goes before the courts, they can help you get the best possible result and can explain the claim process and what steps are required to get the best outcome. The lawyer can usually provide an average estimate of how much you can expect from your claim if you win.
What is classed as a work-related injury?
A work-related injury is any injury that occurs at the workplace and related to the operations of that workplace. Injuries can happen whilst at work, travelling to and from work, on lunch breaks, and when travelling for work.
Here are some examples of workplace injuries:
- Mental health work related issues
- Physical injuries such as cuts, breaks, industrial deafness, amputations and burns
- Diseases such as respiratory conditions caused by asbestos or smoke
- Exacerbate an existing condition
- Death caused by injury or disease
- Trips, falls, slips
- Being hit with a falling object
- Car accidents
What if I work from home, am I still covered?
As an employee, you may be covered if the injury occurs in the course of work and a result of the employment. You can be covered for injuries that take place whilst working and when on your lunch break. The same steps mentioned above need to be followed to ensure you are covered.
Employers reporting injuries
All employers must protect the safety and health of their employees and are responsible for reporting injuries as soon as possible. This should be done no later than 8 business after the injury has occurred.
Employers must:
- Have suitable first aid kit for the workplace
- Know what to do in the case of an emergency
- Record all incidents, despite whether they agree with it
- Report all incidents regardless of whether the employee will need workers compensation or not
- Educate employees on what to do in the case of an emergency
Every employee deserves to work in a safe environment without the fear of losing their job or being discriminated against if they are injured at work. Each workers compensation claim is reviewed individually, and a decision is made of the facts provided. If you have been injured at work, it is important to remember that strict time limits apply, and it is beneficial to have an understanding of your legal rights. If you require further information regarding your entitlement for a work-related injury, give our team of senior expert injury lawyers a call on 1300 446 999 to arrange your obligation free case review. South East Injury Lawyers work on a no win, no fee basis and would be happy to discuss your options with you. Reference: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/claims-and-return-to-work/work-related-injuries
It is very important to hire an attorney that is very familiar with your case to ensure that you are on the right track. There are many attorneys and law firms that give a free case evaluation and will clear all your confusions before even hiring them. Check out servetheinjured.com and their expert personal injury lawyers to share with you more insights on what type of attorney you are gonna look for when you get injured at work.
