What Should I Do If I Was Injured at Work?

If you were injured at work, you should immediately: 

• Notify your employer.
• See an approved doctor for medical attention.
• Ensure your employer files a workers’ compensation claim with its insurance company.

After you take these steps, consider hiring a Pittsburgh workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you receive your worker’s compensation benefits. Our attorneys represent injured workers in workers’ compensation claims and third-party lawsuits. We will protect your rights, help you get the medical treatment you need, and fight for the financial recovery you deserve.

Step 1: Notify Your Employer

Be sure to complete this step. Alert your employer immediately after your workplace accident, regardless of whether you’re aware of an injury. You might not see signs of injury immediately, but that does not mean you are not injured. A work-related injury may not manifest symptoms for days, weeks, or even months.

Notifying your employer can also help prevent accidents of a similar nature in the future. Get an accident report form from your employer, complete it, and give it to your supervisor so they can take the appropriate action. You should also request a copy of incident reports.

Step 2: See an Approved Doctor After a Work Injury

Under the PA Workers’ Compensation Act, your employer must post a list of designated healthcare providers. The law requires this list to contain a minimum of six providers, three of which must be physicians. The list must include the name, address, telephone number, and specialty of each physician on the list.

If you require medical care from a specialist not on your employer’s list of designated healthcare providers, you can seek treatment from a physician of your choosing.

Step 3: Ensure Your Employer Files a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Most states require an employer to file a workers’ compensation claim within a specific period after the accident. Once this deadline lapses, you may lose your right to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

You may need to provide specific information to your employer to complete a claim. As your attorneys, we may even obtain a claim form from the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Board, ensuring that appropriate authorities are aware of your injuries.

Be prepared to address the following questions in your workers’ compensation form: 

• What are your injuries?
• How did the on-the-job injury happen?
• Who was involved in the accident?
• Where and when (date and time) did the accident occur?
• Have you received medical treatment, and if so, what treatment have you received?

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) explains that “nearly every Pennsylvania worker” has a right to workers’ compensation benefits. In addition to injuries, occupational diseases may also entitle you to workers’ compensation benefits.

Following Your Claims Process for Workers’ Compensation

While workers’ compensation laws entitle you to compensation, this does not guarantee you will receive the compensation you deserve. Our work injury lawyers ensure our clients receive every cent of the workers’ compensation coverage they are entitled to. When legal representation is underway, we actively participate in the claims process and inform the client of updates in their claim.

Once you fill out your workers’ compensation form and give it to your employer, the ball is in their court. The company will complete its portion of the form and submit the form to its insurance carrier.

The insurance company should contact you within a reasonable period of time and render a decision. This conversation may involve:

• A claim denial.
• Acceptance of your claim.
• An explanation of the benefits the insurer plans to provide.

A workers’ compensation attorney from our firm will help you understand and respond appropriately to the insurance company’s offer (or lack thereof).

What Damages Should Workers Injured on the Job Seek Compensation For?

Our personal injury lawyers seek compensation for damages an injured worker suffers, which may include:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Wage replacement
• Medical equipment

The nature of your injuries, the length of your recovery period, and the potential for disability may affect the compensation you are entitled to. We will create a complete, detailed list of your damages and develop our legal strategy based on those damages.

An Attorney Can Keep Your Workers’ Compensation Claim on Track

We advise injured workers to document every aspect of their injury, as this may position your claim for success. Keep records of information, correspondence, or expenses related to your workplace injury, including:

Documents and Forms

You will receive many forms to fill out and documents to review. Keep copies of everything—even the envelopes in which the documents arrived and copies of the envelopes in which you sent anything. The envelopes’ postmarks can prove useful in establishing a timeline when reviewing and processing your case.

Our firm’s workers’ compensation lawyer will help you organize these documents. We employ paralegals, have plenty of printers and copy machines, and we will keep all documentation safe for you.

Journals Documenting Your Symptoms

Workers’ compensation is affected by the degree to which your injuries affect your ability to work. If your injuries make it painful, difficult, or unrealistic to do your job, take note of these details in your journal.

You may also document your general injury symptoms. Odds are that you are not attempting to work following your injury, so a detailed journal of your daily symptoms may be helpful as we complete your workplace injury claim or lawsuit.

Medical Records

Your claims administrator will have access to all your medical reports. If we file a lawsuit, we will also use your medical records, so request copies of everything. Useful records may include:

• Photographs of visible injuries
• X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and other medical images you receive
• Medical bills
• Written diagnoses of your injuries
• Documents detailing specific medical care you receive

The more documentation you have for a workers’ compensation claim or lawsuit, the better.

Notes of Conversations Related to the Injury or Claims Process

Our law office can help document conversations related to the workplace accident and the injuries that resulted from it. This includes relevant discussions with coworkers, employers, and insurance representatives.

Employment Records

Insurers tie workers’ compensation benefits directly to your ability to work. You want to demonstrate that your workplace injury has affected your income and ability to perform professional duties. Organize past pay stubs, checks, timesheets, and other documentation that could be relevant to your claim.

Expenses

Workers’ compensation provides for reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses you incur from your injury. Be sure to save receipts for medications, travel expenses for medical visits, and other costs tied to your injuries.

If You Were Injured at Work, Call Berger and Green Today for a Free Consultation

If you have been injured at work, you may be entitled to claim workers’ compensation benefits. The process can be overwhelming, especially as you try to recover from your injuries, but a work injury lawyer in Pittsburgh can help make the process easier.

Call Berger and Green today for a free consultation about your workers’ compensation claim. We will discuss the possibility of filing a lawsuit, as this is a possibility in some work injury cases.