An injury on the job can happen at any time, and in some professions it is far more likely than others. Before any injury occurs, you should know how to react and what steps to take to ensure you are covered later. You may incur a substantial amount of costs, and a workers’ compensation claim can help you get through the majority of it. If you get injured, here’s what to do.

Tell Your Employer

Your employer needs to know about the injury straight away. Failing to tell them that you’ve been injured could set your claim back by months or even prevent you from reaching a settlement. To avoid major complications, make sure they know within 24 hours.

If your employer does not acknowledge your injury, you may have serious trouble getting compensated. Under these dire circumstances, it may be a good idea to contact a workers’ comp lawyer who can help you. Search for lawyers who work mostly with Iowa workers compensation cases, or whichever state applies to you.  

Collect Evidence

To make a claim, you’ll need to collect the right evidence. Pictures, bills, receipts, witness statements and the like can all help with your case. The more you have to justify your claim, the better. Make sure that you can get ahold of any coworkers who saw the injury happen. They can be valuable witnesses in proving your case if there are disputes.

Start the Paperwork

Your employer should start the paperwork for the claim shortly after you report the injury to them. They will need to contact their insurance to inform them and find out what to do next. Fill out the paperwork they give you and return it to them to start the claim.

Speak to a Lawyer

You may have no issues with your employer or insurance, but you may need help in other areas. Making a claim that covers all your bases can be a big task. You may be focused on physical recovery and paying bills, and juggling a claim can be too much.

A lawyer can organize your claim so that it is ready to go. They can also check for things that are commonly left out and calculate any future costs you might incur. Some injuries can last a long time, and you’ll need to account for that even if you file relatively early in the recovery process. Contact a lawyer to find out more.