,

What is the first step that should be taken after suffering an injury at work?

Syracuse, NY—A work accident can happen in the blink of an eye. An employee could lose their footing while working at an elevated height or fall because his/her safety harness was not securely fastened. When a person engages in a work accident, the way in which they respond will impact whether they are able to recover workers’ compensation benefits.

 

After a work-related accident occurs, employees should seek medical help.

 

When a work accident occurs and an individual feels pain or believes they may have suffered an injury, the first thing they are going to want to do is seek medical attention. A physician or emergency room doctor can determine the types of injuries sustained, if any, and recommend a treatment plan.

Individuals shouldn’t wait to seek medical attention following a work accident as certain types of injuries are likely to worsen without prompt care.

 

Who pays for the initial treatment an injured worker receives?

 

If an individual goes to a local urgent care center, the hospital, or to see their primary care physician for treatment, they will want to inform them that they were involved in a work-related accident. The treating physician will take down basic information including the name of their employer, so they know who to submit the bills to.

An injured worker is typically not responsible for covering the initial care they receive for the injuries they sustained in a work accident so as long as their employer is insured.

 

Reporting a work injury to an employer

 

After an individual seeks medical attention, their next step is to report the accident to their employer. Ideally, this should be done directly after the incident, however, if the need for medical care is urgent, then notifying an employer would be the next step for an injured worker to take.

Workers are required to inform their employer of their work-related injuries within 30 days from the date of the accident.1 An employee who fails to report their injuries to their employer within this timeframe are likely to lose access to workers’ compensation benefits.

 

A workers’ compensation lawyer in Syracuse, NY can help an injured worker obtain the benefits they are due

 

If an individual is covered by their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, a Syracuse workers’ comp attorney can walk them through the claims process. This way, they understand how the process works, what their legal rights are, and what they can do if they are wrongfully denied benefits. workers who would like assistance with the claims process or have questions related to recovering workers’ comp benefits can contact Stanley Law for legal help and advice.

 

Stanley Law has multiple offices in Central New York that are located at:

 

Syracuse Office

 

215 Burnet Avenue

Syracuse, NY 13203

Phone: 1-800-608-3333

Website: www.stanleylawoffices.com

 

Binghamton Office

 

84 Court St, Ste 414

Binghamton, NY 13901

 

Watertown Office

 

200 Washington St, Ste 407A

Watertown, NY 13601

 

Rochester Office

 

510 Clinton Square Ste 521

Rochester, NY 14604

 

Montrose Office

 

22 Public Ave

Montrose, PA 18801

 

 

Source:

  1. http://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/Workers/HowSystemWorks.jsp