When to Tell Your Employer About a Workplace Injury
October 9, 2017
If you become injured at work, you may feel a bit overwhelmed or confused about what to do next. Obviously, it is important that you seek medical attention, particularly if the injury is severe. When it comes to notifying your employer about your injury, you may have questions about whether you are obligated to tell your employer about your injury, and if so, how soon after the injury took place do you need to do this. In order to pursue a Workers’ Compensation claim, you are legally obligated to tell your employer about the injury within 10 days of the accident. This deadline is in place in order to prevent fraudulent Workers’ Compensation claims from being filed.
Options for Notifying Your Employer
There are a number of ways you can tell your employer about your injury. One option is to provide a written account of the workplace accident, including the precise location and time of the injury, as well as the cause of the accident, and any other details that can paint a clear picture of the events leading up to the resulting injury. One thing to be aware of, however, is that your employer, or their Workers’ Compensation insurance company can try to use this written document against you. Therefore, it is in your best interest to consider hiring an experienced Workers’ Compensation lawyer who can protect your interests.
Oral and Written Notification
Oral notice, or simply telling your supervisor about the injury, is another option for notifying your employer. While this has been sufficient in some cases, written notification is preferred. Constructive notice is given to an employer if he or she was present when the accident happened, helped paramedics move you to the ambulance, or was involved in some other way. In this case, you may not have provided written notice of your injury, but his or her involvement at the location of the accident would be an example of constructive notice.
In some cases, the Workers’ Compensation commission may waive the notice requirement if the injured worker does not notify their employer within the required 10 days. However, this only happens if the employee can provide sufficient reason as to why the employee missed the notification deadline. If you do not report the injury within 10 days, and you cannot provide a good reason, your claim may be denied. A Workers’ Compensation lawyer can guide you through this process and ensure that you are meeting all of the claims requirements.
Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Assist Injured Workers
If you have been injured at work, or while performing tasks that are directly related to your job, you are urged to contact the Baltimore Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton as soon as possible. Filing a Workers’ Compensation claim can be overwhelming and confusing and we will guide you through the process, addressing all of your questions and concerns along the way. Protecting your rights is our top priority and we will work tirelessly to secure the maximum benefits to which you are entitled. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 844-556-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
