How to Document Your Workplace Injury
Most employees in Georgia are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. If they are injured on the job, they can receive workers’ comp benefits. Even though you do not need to prove negligence or fault to receive benefits, you must prove that your injury is related to your job. Our Savannah and Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys discuss how to document your workplace injury to protect your rights.
Gathering Evidence to Document a Workplace Injury in Georgia
When you are injured in a workplace accident, take the following steps to document your work injury:
Report Your Injury
Immediately notify your employer about your accident and injury. Georgia workers’ compensation laws require employees to report injuries to their employers within 30 days of an accident or diagnosis to be eligible for workers’ comp benefits. The insurance company has 21 days to investigate your injury when you file a claim.
Seek Prompt Medical Treatment
Your employer must provide a list of at least six approved doctors for medical care. If you choose a doctor not on the list, the workers’ compensation insurance provider may not be responsible for your medical bills. However, if you need emergency medical treatment, you can go to the nearest emergency room for treatment.
Prompt medical treatment ensures your injuries are documented for a workers’ compensation claim. The records help you prove your injuries are work-related.
Document Your Time Off Work
Keep detailed employment records, including copies of time cards and pay stubs. These documents help prove you were on the job at the time of the work injury. They are also essential in establishing your average weekly wages for disability and wage replacement benefits. Keep detailed records of all time missed from work because of your work injury.
Witness Statements
Collect contact details of any witnesses present when you were injured. Witness statements help prove that you were working when you were injured and how the injury occurred.
Photographs and Videos
Collect photographs of the accident scene and secure videos from security cameras. The photos and videos can help prove you were engaged in job tasks when you were injured. They also help establish the severity of the accident. For third-party claims, this evidence can help prove that a third party could be liable for your damages.
Copies of Medical Records
Keep copies of all medical records related to your work injury, including treatment plans and bills. Following your doctor’s treatment plan is essential to protect your right to workers’ comp benefits.
Copies of Reports and Forms
Keep copies of all workplace injury reports and forms you complete after a work-related injury. Having copies of injury reports helps prove that you reported the incident to your employer within 30 days. It also backs up your initial statement about what happened at work to cause your injuries.
Contact Our Georgia Workers’ Compensation Attorneys for Help
If you are injured at work, you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. However, your employer and the insurance company may not treat you fairly. Call Parsons Law Group to discuss your claim with an experienced Atlanta and Savannah workers’ compensation attorney. We can help you get the benefits you deserve after a work-related injury.