If you’re injured at work, your employer has certain duties

Being injured at work can have a huge impact on both your personal and professional life. You may experience financial strain due to costly medical bills and lost wages due to taking time off to recuperate. When it comes to your professional life, you may come to the realization that the extent of your injuries mean that you will need to change your career.

While a serious injury could negatively impact your life in many ways, there is some good news. Almost all those who have been injured in the workplace are entitled to workers’ compensation. This means that, if you qualify, you will be entitled to full coverage of all medical bills. You’ll also gain back a portion of the wages that you lost, and you may be able to gain retraining so that you are able to successfully earn an income in another profession.

However, many injured employees experience difficulty in filing a workers’ compensation claim due to the resistance of their employer. If you have encountered this, make sure that you understand the responsibilities that your employer has toward you.

Your employer must provide the appropriate forms

When you are injured at work, notify your employer as soon as you can. When you notify your employer of your injury, they should provide you with the appropriate workers’ compensation forms within 24 hours.

Your employer must not retaliate against you

You have the legal right to file for workers’ compensation, and you are also legally protected from retaliation as a result of filing. Therefore, your employer cannot fire you other otherwise punish you because of the fact that you filed for workers’ compensation.

Your employer must comply with the workers’ compensation board or insurance company

If the workers’ compensation board requests more information, your employer has the legal duty to comply with them and to give them full and truthful information.

If you have been injured in the workplace and you want to take action to gain workers’ compensation, remember that it is your legal right to file. Your employer cannot threaten you or otherwise retaliate against you for making a claim and gaining back the compensation that you deserve.