5 Things to Do When You’re Injured on the Job
By Darwin F. Johnson on December 22nd, 2014 in Workers Compensation
If you’re injured at work, you’re protected under Georgia laws. However, there are certain aspects you are responsible for to make sure your claim gets filed and processed properly. To ensure the best results in your workers’ compensation case, there are certain procedures you should follow.
Employer Notification
If you’re injured on the job, one of the first things you need to do is notify your employer. In Georgia, you have a period of 30 days to report your injury, but it’s best to let your employer or supervisor know immediately when the incident occurs.
Failure to report the incident calls your injury into question and it could limit the liability of your employer. Once you report the injury, your employer will likely fill out an incident report to detail the circumstances of the injury – make sure you provide significant details to ensure the incident is documented properly.
Medical Treatment
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need to visit a doctor immediately. At this time, your employer is responsible for the cost of your medical treatment resulting from the workplace injury, and they should keep a list of doctors to which you can visit for treatment who are covered under Georgia regulations.
Also, under state law, you will likely be required to submit to a drug test following your injury.
Follow Doctor Restrictions
After the doctor’s evaluation, he or she will explain the severity of your injury, if you will require any treatment moving forward and if you’ll need to take time off work to recover. Typically in this case the doctor will provide written notification of the evaluation, which should include whether or not you can return to work with or without restrictions.
It’s important to follow the doctor’s restrictions to prevent any further injuries at the workplace or when you’re off the clock at home.
Document the Incident
It’s also a good idea to document the incident independently of the employer incident report for your own security. Not all cases are clear-cut and your proceedings may take longer than you’d expect.
While the incident is fresh in your mind, write down everything leading up to when the injury occurred, how it happened, any post-injury changes in your health, as well as keeping record of all correspondence from your employer and treating physicians.
The laws surrounding Georgia worker’s compensation are very detailed and complex, that’s why it’s in your best interest to contact a workers’ compensation attorney in Georgia to get the best representation for your case.
Darwin Johnson is an experienced attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia who specializes in representing injured workers. If you have a case and need someone to fight for you, contact the Law Offices of Darwin Johnson to get the benefits you deserve.
