Being involved in an accident can be a terrifying experience, even more so if that accident occurs at the workplace or during company time. For example, you can drive the company car to get supplies and be involved in an accident.
Yet, you shouldn’t worry because regardless of who is at fault, you are still covered by workers’ compensation under California’s no-fault law, according to workers comp attorney Fresno. Here is what you should do when a workplace accident happens!
First Steps in Dealing With a Workplace Accident
If you are a Fresno resident dealing with a workplace accident, you should first report the event to your employer as soon as possible or within 30 days. Your employer, manager, or supervisor should then take the necessary steps to ensure the workspace hazard is cleared off and help you with other issues as well. This is when you can request an official accident report to take time off and claim your compensation later on.
You should see a doctor as soon as possible so that you can assess your injuries and begin recovering. Your employer might have a network of health providers that are part of your company’s workers’ compensation plan. You can take advantage of this, but if you feel that the doctors are mistreating you, then you can request another opinion from elsewhere.
Documenting the Accident
To make the best case out of your worker’s compensation claim, you should start gathering evidence as soon as the accident occurred. Gather and preserve evidence from the accident scene by taking photos of the hazard that led to your injury and write somewhere the names of eyewitnesses, if any, are present.
You can also request video footage from your employer that might have captured the incident on tape. Keep a journal in which you write your personal experience, including pain and suffering. It will help you out later in your claim.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Your employer is responsible for filling out the worker’s compensation claim paperwork and submitting it to the California Division of Workers’ Compensation in a timely manner. Once the claim is submitted, you should expect to be contacted by your company’s insurance provider and initiate the claim process.
Contact a Workplace Accident Attorney
If there are any issues with your employer or how the compensation process goes, you should contact a Fresno compensation attorney to have your case reviewed. Don’t accept any settlement with the insurance company until your lawyer sees it.
You might be entitled to more than you think, so it is always a good strategy to consult with a lawyer before accepting any settlement. Who knows, you might be able to file a personal injury lawsuit as well, depending on your circumstances, and receive compensation for both claims. If your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance, your lawyer can help you with this as well by bringing a lawsuit against them or more parties on the basis of negligence.