3 Things to Do Immediately Following a Workplace Injury in Virginia

Regardless of the industry in which you work, there is always the risk of an on-the-job injury occurring. If you are hurt while on the job, it is important that you understand your right to workers’ compensation insurance, and what steps to take to protect that right.

Following a workplace injury in Virginia, here are three things that you should do as soon as possible to protect your right to benefits–

Notify Your Employer

You have a legal obligation to notify your employer of your workplace accident if you plan to file a workers’ compensation claim for injury benefits (even if you do not plan on filing a claim, you should still notify your employer, especially if the cause of your injury was a dangerous condition that could cause injury to others). You should tell your employer about the injury as soon as possible, but in no case should you wait longer than 30 days to provide notice.

Seek Medical Care

In many cases, you may need emergency medical care following a workplace injury, in which case you can seek emergency care from a hospital/doctor of your choice. If you do not need emergency care, or required future non-emergency care, then you must receive it from your choice of physician from a list provided by your employer of approved physicians. If you see a physician that is not approved by your employer and their workers’ compensation insurer, you may have to pay for these costs out of pocket.

Be sure to not only seek medical care, but also to follow your doctor’s orders. If you do not follow a prescribed treatment regimen, this could affect your ability to collect certain types of workers’ compensation benefits.

Contact an Attorney

While some workers’ compensation claims involve minor injuries that an employer is happy to pay for, many do not; some workers’ compensation cases are very complex and may include situations in which an employee’s injuries are severe and disabling, there is a disagreement about how or when the injuries were incurred, or there is a dispute about the extent of an employee’s disability and their ability to return to work. When a claim is denied or any of the above factors are present, it is important to work with a workers’ compensation attorney.

Schedule Your Free Consultation with Hampton Injury Law PLC Today

At Hampton Injury Law PLC, experienced Virginia workers’ compensation lawyer Jan Hoen knows that when you are injured on the job, you don’t have time to worry about whether or not you will be compensated for your medical bills, wages, and disability. The stress of filing a workers’ compensation claim, especially if your claim is denied, can be oppressive. To help you make sense of the process, and for an advocate that will fight for you, you need to contact Hampton Injury Law PLC today for your free consultation. Our workers’ compensation attorneys is here to help you recover the benefits you are owed under state law!