When you hurt your back at work you may not know that your employer has workers’ compensation insurance to cover its employees for time spent off work for an injury like a hurt back that has taken place while undertaking workplace tasks. This helps to relieve the financial burden of a hurt back while you are unable to work. It is a good idea to consult an attorney as this helps to ensure the best possible outcome for a WC claim. What Causes a Hurt Back at Work? Hurting a back is one of the commonest injuries that takes place at work. Thousands of days of work are lost annually due to a hurt back with often long recovery periods. There are several scenarios that could cause a hurt back such as: slipping and falling on a slippery floor in the restaurant that causes you to fall backwards and hit your back on a hard, object like a table edge; standing in one place for an extended period of time; sitting in one place as an administrative worker at a computer causing repetitive strains to the back. What to Do if You Hurt Your Back at Taco Bell The first action to take if you have hurt your back is to get your injury diagnosed and treated as soon as you can. Some employers request that injured employees use their own medical provider and any ongoing treatment may only be provided by the employer’s appointed physician. You should ask your employer before seeking medical treatment. Otherwise you may find your medical treatment costs cannot be included in your workers’ compensation claim. The next step to follow is to inform your work supervisor preferably in writing so the proof is there if you need it. This is because some employers set a time limit for reporting a workplace accident which could be as little as 24 hours from the time the accident took place. If you fail to conform to this deadline you may have your workers’ compensation claim denied. How to File a WC Claim The last step is the filing of the workers’ compensation claim. You may be lucky as some employers will provide you with the WC claim form which you will need to complete. You will need to fill in the details as listed below: your full name; your jobposition; the date and time of the accident; the precise place of the accident; what caused the accident; names of any other employees involved in the accident. You will also need to include the evidence which proves the injury took place at work. This is important because so many WC claims are denied because the evidence isn't sufficient to prove the injury was work related. It is always better to get your first application right so there is no argument at a later date about your eligibility for workers’ compensation. The type of evidence suitable to support your claim may include the following: eye-witnesses written reports confirming your injury took place at work; the physician’s diagnosis, treatment and likely recovery time; photographs of the accident scene; security camera footage; a copy of your report to your supervisor; receipts for medical treatment received; X-rays and scans showing your hurt back injury. An Attorney May Help You should consider consulting a workers’ compensation attorney who has a higher chance of winning a successful WC claim on your behalf. *Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Taco Bell, or any other company, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Addition Resources I Hurt My Back Working At Dollar General I Hurt My Back While Working At Home Depot
