Workplace injuries are an unfortunate part of life. They can occur in many shapes and forms, in places where it may seem more likely and in the most innocuous of circumstances.
Regardless, if you have been injured at work it is important for you to be able to make a claim and one that produces the best result.
Thankfully, the best lawyers Canberra has available can provide sound advice on your injury process, but these three vital tips can go a long way to ensuring you get the best result possible:
- Immediately report your injury
If you sustain your injury in the workplace but fail to immediately report it you may be liable to having your employer say it didn’t occur at the workplace. Therefore, the moment you sustain your injury – especially one that will require a claim – it’s important to report it.
- Immediately see your doctor
You don’t want to overlook visiting your doctor immediately after a workplace injury. Why? Because if you allow the injury to get better over time before seeing a doctor it may look as if your injury wasn’t so severe as to warrant compensation.
If your injury is severe enough it will be highly likely you will need to go to the doctor after reporting it to your supervisor, manager etc.
Once you get there, explain the nature of the injury and have your doctor properly analyse it so that you can receive a detailed report that can be used when making your claim.
- Maintain a detailed report
Speaking of reports, one of the most important things you can do in the event of workplace injury is to maintain a detailed report and timeline of the incident as well as any correspondence you have with your employer.
First, a detailed report that includes an account of what happened as well as your doctor’s analysis will allow you to compare it to your employer’s records and challenge anything you see as untoward in their account.
What’s more, it is always vital to keep a record of correspondence in case your employer, for example, admits fault at some stage of the claims process and you can then use this as further evidence when making your claim.
- Be aware of private investigators
This may come as surprising, but you never know when it may happen to you. Insurance companies are known for hiring private investigators to carry out surveillance on people making a claim to check if they are lying about the extent of their injury.
For example, a person might say that the workplace injury has left them unable to partake in any physical activity or exercise for a few months. An insurance company may then hire a PI to follow the injured person around and perhaps even film them in order to catch them out doing something like jogging or playing at the local footy club.
It sounds strange, but insurance companies take big claims seriously, especially when you consider they may have to provide you with a big payout. It’s not worth worrying about but it’s good to be aware of its occasional occurrence.
At the end of the day, acting ethically and telling the full truth about the extent of your workplace injury is the best way to ensure you receive the right amount of compensation without any annoying insurance companies trying to sting you for the moment you did just happen to (painfully) kick a footy that inadvertently ended up in your vicinity.
