Steps To Take If You're Injured In An Accident At Work That Wasn't Your Fault

By Frasier Harvey


If you suffer a serious injury at work, it can have an impact on your ability to earn money. This means claiming compensation is often an advised route; read on to find out about claiming compensation following a serious injury at work. Firstly, it helps to know what a serious injury is. It can include illness or diseases that you contract at work due to chemical exposure, but more often it relates to accidents that occur in the workplace, usually due to slips or falls.

If you are going to be successful in your serious injury compensation claim, you need to make sure you follow all the proper procedures first. For instance, your employer is likely to have an accident book in which you will need to record details of the incident when it happens. If they don't make sure you get a written record of what happened as you may need this as evidence later. It can also be a good idea to get copies of your medical information relating to the case.

When making a personal injury claim, many people hire a lawyer to help them with the process. It's important to start the claims process as soon as possible, because you need to keep to certain time limits and these can vary from state to state. Your lawyer will work to prove that your injury was caused by your employer's negligence. They will review your case and may request that you are examined by an independent doctor to collect more evidence.

The next step is to put your claim into motion, assuming your lawyer thinks you have a good chance of winning your case. You need to notify your employer of your intent to claim against them and provide them with the evidence you have collected. It is then their chance to respond. They might choose to accept their liability and pay you the requested compensation, backed by their insurance. Alternatively, they could challenge the claim if they feel they can prove their case.

As personal injury court cases are often very costly, it is unusual for this type of claim to end up in a court situation. Unless your lawyer thinks you've got a good chance of winning, they're unlikely to recommend this option. Instead, cases are usually settled directly with the employer and the level of compensation you are awarded with take into account special costs associated with the injury (including extra transport costs and medical bills), as well as your loss of earnings.




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