Across the country, accidents happen at work every day. It doesn’t matter what kind of company it is; injuries happen no matter how many precautions are taken. When an employee is injured on the job he or she is entitled to file a claim for workers’ compensation. Whether or not it is approved depends on the circumstances and the supporting documentation. Some of the most common injuries on the job involve trips, slips and falls. Whether your shoe catches on a bump in the carpet or you slip because someone mopped the floor and forgot to put up a sign, these are all very common injuries in the workplace. If you have experienced a slip, trip or fall on the job, then you could qualify for workers’ comp, but you need to know what steps must be taken in order to file a successful claim. Common Injuries That Occur Because of Trips, Slips and Falls Slips, trips and falls are most common in fast paced environments where people are rushing around. Restaurant workers are especially susceptible to trips, slips and falls on the job because the floors are often wet in the kitchen and in dining areas where patrons can spill drinks, but you can imagine how hospitals, automotive repair garages and grocery stores could all be places where slips are common. It’s also very easy to trip over equipment in the office, from power cords to storage boxes. Though you might not think that a fall is a major injury, you never know how that fall could impact your ability to work so you need to make sure you report the incident and document it thoroughly. What To Do As soon as an injury at work takes place, report it to your supervisor or human resources department. In order to file a claim you must report it first. Make sure that you visit your doctor. Even if you don’t think you were hurt badly, you never know what will happen during the healing process and it is much harder to win a workers’ comp claim when you do not have medical documentation. Having a doctor certify an injury, no matter how small, is very important. Your doctor will also describe the treatment plan and what adjustments you might need to make at work as a result of the injury. In addition to medical documentation, you should interview any witnesses who saw the accident take place. Get photographs of the scene that highlight how an accident might happen (for example, if the tile is constantly wet by a floor drain) and find out if there is security footage of the accident itself. The more evidence you present, the stronger your claim will be. Get A Free Case Evaluation Today Each state has a predetermined amount of time to file your claim, so it is important to act quickly. You also need to make sure that you fill out all of your paperwork correctly. It can be intimidating and stressful, especially as you’re recovering from your injury, so you might consider working with a workers’ comp attorney who can help make sure you do everything you need to do for a successful outcome. A workers’ comp attorney will help you to gather evidence, work with your insurance company and human resources department and make sure that your case is as strong as possible. While working with an attorney will not guarantee that you will win your case, it greatly improves your chances to have an experienced advocate working on your behalf. In many cases, employment attorneys will work on a contingency basis, which means they will not require any payment upfront and you only pay if you win your case. To find out how a workers’ comp attorney might be able to help you with your claim, fill out a free case evaluation today. Additional Resources Specific Workers Compensation Injuries Do You Qualify For Workers' Compensation?
