of Jeffery E. Slack, Can Help.
A worker has laws that govern when an employee is injured during the course of their
employment. Those laws do not require the employee to prove that he was injured due
to someone else's fault. The law provides medical treatment be covered as well as
some protection for lost wages. In addition, worker's compensation can provide a
claim for injuries suffered. However, worker's compensation is a very different area
of law than personal injury in that it does not allow a person to recover for pain and
suffering. Instead, that person can recover for a impairment rating that occurs as a
result of a work injury.
The big issues to be aware of if you are injured on the job are:
1. Report the incident to a supervisor immediately - in Utah, you have 180 days to
report your injury or your claim is barred.
2. Make sure that some type of written report is made, even if you have to write it up
and hand it to your supervisor. Keep a copy of the report.
3. Find out about the doctors identified for worker's compensation claims. Each
employer should have a list of doctors that you are allowed to see if hurt on the job.
4. Make sure you do what the doctor tells you. Get an extra copy of any doctor's
excuses or work restrictions given.
5. Let the insurance company know that you have a claim.
Common workplace injuries are brain and head injuries, burns, scarring, broken
bones, dislocations, fractures, neck injuries, back injuries, shoulder injuries, knee
injuries and spinal cord injuries. You are entitled to various rights if you have been
injured on the job.
Most employers care about their employees and make sure that their rights are
preserved when injured on the job. My philosophy is that if you are being treated
fairly by your employer after having been injured, you don't need my services. My job
as a worker's compensation attorney is to make sure you are treated fairly.
