Despite the fact that the term “accident” is mostly used to refer to collisions and crashes that occur on the road, it is rather a really relative one. Accidents can occur on the road, in a public place, at home, in a sports field or even in the workplace. As a matter of fact, workplace accidents are arguably the second most common types of accidents that people face. The risk of sustaining a work-related injury tends to be actually higher among labor workers compared to blue collar and white collar employees.
When you are involved in an accident and you sustain an injury, it is easy to get confused such that you don’t know where to start. The good thing is that under the law, you could qualify for compensation if the accident occurred as a result of the employer’s negligence or in circumstances that could have been avoidable by the administration. This is because most employers have what is known as employer’s liability and workers’ compensation insurance, and in such a case, the insurance company involved may be liable to pay you for the damages suffered due to such an injury. But the big question is, how do you get by after a job injury, considering the confusion, frustration, and physical pain that may be involved?
Here are some tips to guide you through, in the unfortunate event that you’re caught up in a workplace accident and end up sustaining an injury.
Seek Medical Attention
After you’ve just got injured at your place of work, the first and most important step is to call an ambulance or the paramedics to have your wound of injury taken care of. At this point, it is totally normal to find yourself panicking, perhaps uncontrollably. If you’re in the company of fellow workers or there are other people nearby, you might want to shout for help in case the situation is critical. Have the people nearby rush you to the nearest health facility to have your wound or injury taken care off. In severe accidents, there’s always a risk of bleeding out so getting medical attention should priority number one.
Get A Personal Injury Lawyer
Once you start recuperating and your condition is a bit stable, this is the best time to seek a legal expert for advice on the way forward. On top of this, your personal injury attorney will investigate your case, gather evidence, organize the appropriate documentation, and even help you establish the amount of compensation you could qualify for. According to Dairn Shane from PreszlerLawBC.com, a typical compensation to accident victims can total up to $400 per week for lost income, up to $3000 per month for attendant care, and up to a total of $50K for medical costs. This will mainly depend on the severity of the injury as well as how strong your case holds.
Seek Support from Friends and Family
Especially considering that most labor workers are constantly exposed to heavy machinery, dangerous equipment, and hazardous work environments, injuries from their workplace can sometimes be so severe. As a matter of fact, some of them unfortunately lead to long-term disability. It can be really difficult to come to terms with injuries such as the loss of an arm, a leg or eyesight. Some victims of workplace accidents actually end up becoming mentally depressed, especially by the fact that they can’t return to work. In these trying times, support from family and friends can really be helpful. This could be emotional, financial, and even spiritual support.
Stay Positive
As mentioned in the previous pointer, severe accidents cause someone to be physically and mentally decapacitated. One of the ways you can get through these tough times is to maintain a positive attitude towards life and visualize a better tomorrow in your mind. Especially if your personal injury claim goes through and your friends and family support you, you will realize that there’s more to life than just waking up and going to work like everyone else does each day. Also, it can be helpful to get more into the things you love doing if your current situation allows it or you could even find new hobbies. The trick is not to let the injury or disability get the best of you, no matter how severe it may seem.
It may not be easy to get by after a work injury, but that doesn’t make it undoable either. As a matter of fact, it all depends on how you carry the whole situation. If it occurs to you, you will want to seek medical attention, get legal advice, seek peer and family support, and maintain a positive attitude. You can enjoy life even after sustaining a job injury.