Accidents that lead to personal injuries are common in the workplace. Regrettably, many workers avoid seeking compensation for work-related injuries and often choose to work through the pain, either for fear of losing their jobs, or due to financial needs.

However, failure to report any work-related injuries may not only undermine your chances of receiving compensation, but may also lead to more serious health concerns.

So what measures should you take? 

Well, here are the steps to follow when seeking compensation for work-related injuries

  • Report any accidents to your supervisor
    In case of any work-related accidents, the first thing you need to do is to notify your supervisor. Reporting the accident is essential even if the injuries are minor and they do not require urgent medical attention.
  • Document the report
    After informing your supervisor, you should document the report by filling out an injury sheet. The injury sheet is the first documented report that you have to submit to your boss. The sheet contains information about the injury, and an account on how the accident occurred. You may choose to submit the sheet in person, or via email if your boss is not around.
  • Make sure you have enough eyewitnesses
    The availability of eyewitnesses is crucial to any claim for compensation. Your witnesses could be your co-workers or customers who were present when the incident occurred. Eyewitnesses will back up your case in case your employer decides to scuttle your claim for compensation.


When should I report work-related injuries?

According to legislation on workers’ compensation, you should report all work-related injuries in the state of Florida within 30 days. However, the law provides an additional 30-day window period in case the actual cause of the injury cannot be established immediately. This means the worker may report within this period, once the cause of the injury is determined to be work-related. 

Unfortunately, many workers fail to report work-related injuries in time, and this often affects their chances of receiving compensation. In some instances, a worker may dismiss an injury as minor, and continue to work despite the injuries. In such a case, the injury may deteriorate, leading to greater health problems and financial constraints.

Moreover, some workers are too egoistic, and they may choose to continue working so as not to appear as weak in front of their co-workers. This may not only undermine any prospects of receiving compensation, but also cause grievous harm to their health and financial status.


So why should you seek professional help?

To avoid all these situations, you are advised to enlist the services of a reputable workers’ comp attorney. A professional lawyer will guide you through the steps of reporting any work-related injuries, and filing a compensation claim with your employer and the relevant authorities. 

In case of any legal or financial tussles with your employer, the attorney will be able to provide litigation services, allowing you to seek medical help and concentrate on other important matters.