When you get hurt while on the job, traveling, or in a car accident is painful and anxiety-inducing. There’s a lot you need to do to ensure that you have your ducks in a row, and it can be frustrating since, ideally, you’d like the chance to recover first. In any case, you can’t go back in time and change your fate, so things need to be dealt with in the here and now. The first step is to take care of your physical health. Then, there are a few steps you need to take to deal with any pending medical bills or legal paperwork. The following article will help put things in perspective.
Acute Pain
So, you’ve been hurt and feel terrible. The first thing you need to focus on is alleviating the phase of acute pain so that you can better focus on other issues. Place ice on the area of the injury, and you may also need to add compression if the swelling is severe, elevate as much as possible, and get plenty of rest. This technique works efficiently for most injuries, especially a sprained ankle and the like. However, if you are seriously hurt, go to the hospital straight away. The initial phase after an injury should be devoted to mitigating the acute pain. Moreover, don’t attempt to DIY everything; always make sure to see a doctor.
Save Medical Reports
The next thing you need to do is save all the documentation you accumulate from the medical professionals. Regardless of the source of the accident, it is helpful to keep a paper trail. It is not always immediately clear if you will need them as proof at a later stage. As the Blumenshine Law Group experts point out, it may be difficult to receive the justice due to an accident if you cannot prove fault – a point we will get to later. If you qualify for worker’s compensation or another form of financial assistance to help pay for certain expenses, you’re expected to hold onto all the medical reports, bills, and any paperwork attesting to your condition.
Report The Injury
Suppose you’ve been hurt while on the job; it is important to contact your employer immediately and explain what happened. You are legally required to report your illness or injury no less than thirty days after the said accident. Otherwise, you may not be eligible for any benefits. Be sure to fill out any paperwork your employer requests; there may be an injury report you’ll be required to review and sign. Your employer needs to file this document with the local office of occupational safety and health. Sometimes, your boss may not be fully transparent regarding the type of paperwork you need to fill out, so be sure to check on this and that it is submitted to the local authorities on time. Bonus points if you get an extra copy for your personal records.
If, on the other hand, you’ve been hurt in a car accident or a similar scenario, it is vital to file a police report. Obtain as much documentation for proof as you can for legal purposes later. Depending on the state where you reside, you may need to establish fault, whether it was a bad driver that rear-ended your car or a slippery staircase in a train station that caused you to fall and break your wrist. Having the presence of mind to get the paperwork cleared away from the get-go may feel like a big ask when you’re in pain, but it is essential. Not everyone will have your back when you’re hurt, least of all the people or organizations who may owe you compensation. For this reason, it is important to do due diligence and be your best advocate. You most likely will have to hire a lawyer to help you take care of the paperwork and file a claim on your behalf to ensure that you get the amount you deserve. Either way, your legal representative will ask you to do some research and collate the paperwork on your own first.
Suffering through a severe injury when you least expect it is not only a painful hassle but can also be deeply stressful since you may not be receiving the money you deserve. In this case, doing what you can to compensate for any potential holes in your narrative by providing as much evidence as possible while you recover will prove to be a huge boon to your case.
