If you suffer from an injury at work then you should be covered by your employer’s insurance. Here in the UK, employer’s liability insurance is the only type of insurance which is a legal requirement. This means that if your boss is operating without any, they could be breaking the law.
If you are injured at work – no matter how seriously – you should pursue compensation to cover the financial losses you receive. You will have to pay for appointments and travel. You will be in pain. You will miss social events. You might even miss work. All of these things cost you money. Claiming compensation after the accident insures that your interests are protected, even if your health is suffering.
Take these steps after your accident to make sure that your losses are covered.
The 5 Steps to Take After a Workplace Accident
Whether you lose a limb, suffer from an industrial disease, or suffer lung injuries from breathing in chemicals, you should take the following steps to protect your own interests.
1 – Report, Report, Report!
If nobody knows that you were injured in a workplace accident then there is very little you can do about it, moving forward. This is why it is crucial that you report your accident. Speak to your manager or supervisor and tell them what has happened in detail. Ask that they report the accident to those higher ups who can affect change.
You can even report incidents where you think an accident might happen in future due to poor safety standards. This gives management a chance to deter them.
2 – Log Your Accident
Here in the UK businesses are required to keep an accident book on the premises. This book exists for the specific recording of accidents at work. Every single accident that takes place in your workplace must be logged here, by law. If not? Your employer could be breaking the law again.
Make sure your accident is logged in the accident book as this will help you defend your rights, later.
3 – Employ a Specialist
At this point you may wish to consult with a specialist personal injury solicitor to discuss your case. If your injuries are severe enough and if they prevent you from working, you may be eligible to launch a claim for compensation. Speak with an expert personal injury solicitor for further advice.
4 – Gather Evidence
There is a small chance that your employer’s insurance company will try to deny the accident. This is why we log and report it. However, gathering evidence is an important step, too. Take pictures of the scene of the accident, document your recovery with photographs, and speak to witnesses for statements if you can.
5 – Concentrate on your Recovery
Your job is to recover, but while you do so you may wish to take those first steps towards protecting your rights. Make sure you keep all of your receipts and take detailed notes regarding all your costs. This could help build a case in the end.
Compensation Makes Life Easier
Although launching a compensation claim won’t undo the harm caused, it will make your recovery journey easier. When it comes to launching your claim there should be no guilt involved.
