No one ever expects to be injured while at his or her workplace, but the reality is, accidents do happen. According to canada.ca, one out of every fifteen workers is injured on the job; in 2003 there were 1,000,000 occupational injuries reported. Fortunately, there are protocols in place that protect the injured worker and the employer in the event of an accident. For example, the WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) acts to provide insurance for those who have sustained an illness or injury while on the job. If the injury or illness is deemed compensable with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, a compensation claim will be submitted to the WSIB and paid to the injured worker, if the claim is approved.
What to Do If You Are Injured at Work?
If you are injured at work, your actions immediately following the injury will dictate how your worker’s compensation claim will be handled. It is imperative that workers notify their supervisors of any injury sustained, even those that seem innocuous at the onset; minor injuries can potentially manifest into a serious condition, and if those injuries were not reported when they occurred, your claim may be disallowed. What constitutes an on the job injury? An on the job injury is defined as an illness or injury that occurs while an employee is working for compensation or even traveling to and from work.
What Happens After You Report Your Injury?
- Your employer will provide you with a treatment memorandum to take to a medical provider.
- You will need to be evaluated by a physician.
- Your physician will determine if/when you’re eligible to return to work. Hopefully, a return to work dispute will not arise.
- You may be required to give a report directly to the worker’s compensation board.
Experienced Lawyers and Worker’s Compensation
Those who are injured on the job are encouraged to seek legal counsel, as navigating the worker’s compensation process can be difficult. If you live in the fast-growing city of Toronto or in the GTA surrounding it, a great option is to hire a WSIB lawyer from Goodman Law Group to work on your case and fight for your compensation. And on the job injury may result in lost wages, medical bills, and possibly rehabilitation cost; a worker’s compensation attorney will be able to advise you of your rights and work to ensure that those costs associated with your injury are covered by worker’s compensation. In addition, an attorney will be able to advise you on settlement options and explain in detail what settling your claim entails. For example, experienced lawyers will evaluate any settlement offer based on the amount of the settlement, the disability rating, and the likelihood of incurring future medical expenses. These evaluations can be very complex in nature, and it is best to align yourself with an experienced lawyer that can provide clarity and recommend the best course of action, based on your unique circumstances. If you’re injured on the job, notify your employer immediately, seek medical treatment, and seek legal counsel to help you throughout the worker’s compensation process.
