What to do when injured at work?

When you’re doing your job, you make sure that nobody, including yourself, could get hurt. But unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned, and now you’re suffering from an injury. By learning what to do when you are injured at work, as well as taking the right steps after your accident, you can get the compensation you deserve.

You may think that your only option is to file a workers’ compensation claim, which would involve seeking out benefits from your employer. But if your employer was not fully responsible for the accident, then going after workers’ comp is not your only option. You need a personal injury lawyer to step in and seek damages for you.

For more information, you can visit Haug Law Group’s Personal Injury Legal Definitions and Terms page, and then learn more about third-party workplace injuries.

What are third-party workplace injuries?

Third-party workplace injuries happen when you’re hurt on the job, but you and your employer aren’t fully responsible for the injury. Liable third parties could include:

• A client who comes into your office
• A partner or vendor your company does business with
• A random person who injures you when you’re outside of the office but still working

Here are some examples. Let’s say that you regularly take the company car to go to the post office and mail out packages for your employer. On one of your trips, a FedEx driver hit your vehicle and left you with injuries. Even though you were on the clock, you could hold the FedEx driver responsible and get a personal injury lawyer involved.

In another example, a vendor came into your workplace and dropped a heavy box on your foot. Now, you have a broken toe and your medical expenses are piling up. You could call a personal injury lawyer to help you pay for your expenses.

Just to clarify, if you are using a machine at work and it suddenly goes off the rails and hurts you, or a similar incident occurs, then you would need to file a workers’ compensation claim instead.

What To Do When You Are Injured at Work

If your injury isn’t too serious, the first thing you should do when you’re injured at work is to collect evidence. Stay on the scene and take notes about what happened. Gather witness statements from coworkers and anyone else who saw what transpired, and take photographs of what injured you as well as your injuries and any damage to your personal belongings.

If somebody injured you, then get their information, including their name, phone number, and the company they’re working for, if applicable. For instance, say that you were driving the company car when a FedEx driver hit you. You’d need the driver’s information.

You should also see if there was a security or traffic camera that captured what happened in case you need the footage to prove your claim.You should also alert your supervisor about what happened and insist you put the incident in writing. It’s a good idea to get a copy of the report. Don’t rely on a verbal exchange or agreement; get everything in writing every step of the way.

Whether you’re at work or running errands for your company, let your supervisor know what happened so you can generate a report. If you got into a car accident, then you should call the police as well so you have it on record.

It’s important to get medical treatment as soon as possible, or else the defendant’s insurance company could try to say that something else caused your injuries. Go to your nearest hospital and let the doctor know about any pain you are experiencing, even if it’s not so bad. You never know if back or neck pain, for example, could feel worse over time.

Also, ask your doctor to take X-rays to ensure there is no internal damage. If they give you a treatment plan, follow it accordingly.

If the defendant’s insurance company gets in touch with you to offer you a settlement, do not take it. It won’t be high enough to cover your medical bills and other expenses since insurance companies try to get away with paying out as little as possible.

Even if it seems like enough, you don’t know the extent of your injuries yet, so it’s best to hold off on asking for a settlement. Also, keep in mind that you don’t need to hand them over any information, but if you do, you can confirm basic details about the accident like when and where it occurred. Don’t mention your injuries, either, because this information could be used against you.

Rejecting a Defendant’s First Settlement Offer

After you get home from the hospital, the defendant’s insurance company might call you to find out details about what happened. Sometimes, they do this to try to blame the accident on you so that they won’t have to compensate you. Instead of providing details, it’s best to decline to speak to them.

Additionally, they might try to offer you a settlement so that you don’t get a personal injury lawyer involved. It’s critical that you don’t accept their offer. Insurance companies do not like paying people the proper compensation, so their offer is going to be too low.

For instance, they may offer you $1,000 when your medical bills could reach $10,000 depending on the severity of your injuries. And if you accept their offer, you won’t be able to pursue a larger one later on.

Instead, make sure you reach out to a personal injury lawyer, such as one of the professionals at Haug Law Group. For more information, you can visit the

Personal Injury Legal Definitions and Terms page on Haug Law Group’s website before giving us a call.

Why You Should Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

Sometimes, you’ll be able to get workers’ comp for your injuries. Other times you won’t. That’s why it’s important to call up a lawyer who can let you know the difference and tell you if you have a personal injury case on your hands.

If they can help you, it won’t cost you a dime. Personal injury lawyers give you a consultation and then decide if they want to work with you. They’ll only take on your case if they believe they can win because their pay comes out of your final settlement.

They will work hard on your behalf to negotiate a higher settlement that will cover your medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earnings, loss of companionship, and any other damages that may apply. Since you need to focus on getting better, they will handle collecting all the necessary paperwork, like your medical records.

All you have to do is give your lawyer any information you have, keep going to your appointments, and stay in touch

Get In Touch With a Personal Injury Lawyer

Now that you know what to do when you are injured at work, it’s time to call a personal injury lawyer who can help you. They will collect your evidence or help you get all the evidence you need such as photographs, witness statements, and medical and police records.

They’ll also negotiate with the insurance company so you don’t have to go back and forth with them. If the initial settlement is too low, your lawyer will work hard to get you a better settlement. Included in the settlement could be damages like:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of enjoyment
• Loss of future earnings
• Pain and suffering

The damages you could receive depend on the extent of your injuries. For example, if you suffered from brain damage, this is a lifelong injury that will now affect what kind of jobs you can do and activities you can partake in. You could receive a much higher settlement to cover your bills and future treatment, as well as compensate for the fact that you’re much more limited in your abilities now.

To find out what kind of compensation you may be entitled to, reach out to the personal injury lawyers at Haug Law Group today. We are standing by and ready to help you in your time of need.