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What To Do After An Injury At Work
If you have been injured in a workplace accident, or suspect that you have another type of work-related injury (such as repetitive stress syndrome, knee or back problems), taking certain steps will improve your chances of receiving compensation.
At Crossman Law Offices, P.C., our Phoenix work injury attorneys have helped countless workers from all industries, and with all types of injuries, get the benefits they need and deserve. Avery Crossman is certified as a workers’ comp specialist by the State Bar of Arizona, and we believe this highly focused knowledge and experience is a huge asset to our clients. Based on decades of working for workers, we’d like to offer the following advice if you’re asking yourself – Do I have a Case?
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Call Us 602-248-0380Injured At Work? Be Sure To Take These Steps.
- Seek medical help right away. Your benefits will be paid back to the date you began treatment, so it’s not a good idea to wait. If you had a previous injury, tell the doctor how it has changed or worsened because of your work.
- Inform your employer — which may mean telling your manager, supervisor, or co-worker. According to the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA), “It is the injured worker’s responsibility to make sure the injury is reported to the supervisor/employer as soon as an injury occurs or when the injured worker becomes aware of the condition.”
- Do not attempt to “work through” your injury — you will not be rewarded for your loyalty, and it may harm your claim.
- Consult a Phoenix work injury compensation lawyer as soon as possible. Your employer or insurer may question the validity of your claim or diminish its value because they are primarily concerned with their bottom line. They will have lawyers, and so should you — let us help you navigate the claims process.
- Make sure that your claim is filed with the ICA. You probably will not be compensated by the insurer until your claim is properly filed. Your employer may file the claim for you, but you are ultimately responsible for ensuring it is filed.
- If you cannot work, your employer is not obligated to hold your position open for you. You should know, however, that it is illegal for employers to fire a worker just because he or she filed a workers’ comp claim (that is, in retaliation).
In Arizona, there is a one-year statute of limitations on filing a claim for workers’ compensation — but it’s not a good idea to wait. The sooner you make your claim, the sooner you will receive payments to cover your lost wages and medical expenses. Our team of Phoenix lawyers who specialize in work injury are here to guide you through this difficult time but you can start by clicking here to see a step-by-step, easy-to-read flow chart on The Hearing Process.
“I know it’s scary to tell your supervisor you got hurt. Sometimes it’s just the way you report it that matters. I tell workers to tell a boss. Even if they don’t think something will come of it, it is so very important to report. People would be amazed at what they thought was a strain turned out to be much worse.” – Avery Crossman
Avery Crossman
Tell Our Phoenix Work Injury Attorneys About Your Claim
Contact us to schedule a free consultation by calling Crossman Law Offices, P.C., at (602) 248-0380. The best way to find out if you have a case is to ask, and we’re happy to answer your questions. We work state-wide, so no matter where in Arizona you reside, you can get the legal help you need.
Avery N Crossman
Ms. Crossman is a State Bar Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist and is past Co-Chair of the State Bar Workers’ Compensation Section. She has served as a faculty member at the State Bar Seminar on Professionalism and is a former Judge Pro Tempore in the Arizona County, Justice, and Superior Courts. In the past, she has spoken at seminars on Workers’ Compensation sponsored by the Industrial Commission of Arizona and the Arizona Association of Lawyers for Injured Workers. Ms.Crossman is a long-time member of the Arizona Association of Lawyers for Injured Workers. She is also a member of American Mensa.