If you have been hurt in the workplace then it is highly likely that you will be able to make a workplace accident compensation claim. Usually the only time you will not be able to file a claim is because you have caused the accident yourself and thus it was no fault of your employer or the workplace was not unsafe.
It is the duty of the person who employs you to make sure that they provide a safe workplace. If they do not fulfill this duty then you have every right to file a claim should you have experienced an unfortunate incident. But, how do you go about doing so? If you are seeking to make a workplace accident compensation claim then it is unlikely you will have had to do so for before. Therefore, you may feel at a loss regarding what to do. But, don’t worry, read on for everything to be made crystal clear…
Before you find yourself a decent solicitor you need to make sure that you have all of the evidence to prove that you suffered an injury in the workplace. After all, you can’t merely expect your word to be good enough. If your employer has taken all of the required steps, from installing a horizontal lifeline to providing PPE for all workers, and you’ve misused this equipment, you won’t be able to make a claim. The first thing you need to do is seek medical help. This does not mean you have to call an ambulance and rush to hospital. Of course, if your injury has been that bad then it is likely that someone will have called the ambulance for you. Nevertheless, the point being made is; no matter how big or small your claim is medical help is essential. Even if you think the pain will subside, make sure you visit a workers comp doctor. If you fail to do so then it does not look very good for your claim at all. A medical visit shows that you have experienced an injury.
Nevertheless, you should not merely stop at the doctor or hospital visits. You should also make sure you gather other evidence. Take pictures of your injuries. This is a great method of evidence and is highly recommended. In addition to this, it is advisable that you write down as much as possible about the incident. After all, it is easy to forget details after they have occurred. Moreover, something may seem like the littlest detail to you but may actually be considered significant by your solicitor. Therefore, get a document; write down the date, time, location and then everything else that comes to your mind regarding the incident.
And lastly, you should never let people get inside your mind. There are many times whereby an employee says they are going to sue and they are then met with out of court offers, mind games regarding how it was their own fault, and so on and so forth. However, you should never underestimate the value you of your case, even if you think it is small. Only listen to yourself and your advisor. Do not let other people’s tales and opinions get inside of your brain.
Aside from this, you need to make sure you hire a quality law firm who can help you to navigate the complicated legal procedure. After all, the last thing you want to do is attempt to deal with this on your own. If you do so, you could find yourself in a heap of trouble. It is something you are allowed to do but you are never recommended to do so because personal injury law is so complex. Instead, you need someone with experience in the types of claims that you have been involved in, for example, you may want to work with an NBA Law Firm mesothelioma attorney. There are many different areas when it comes to workplace injury law and so it is imperative that you work with someone who fully understands what you are going through.
If you follow these basic steps then you will have the right information and the right mindset in order to file a workplace compensation claim. Just make sure you take the time to hunt down a good solicitor as well! We hope that you now feel more confident about what to do next.