If you have been injured in an accident at your place of work, you are most likely entitled to what is called Workers’ Compensation. Most employers are required by state law to provide their employees with workers’ comp insurance coverage, in the event of a workplace accident.
If you are injured at your job, it is important to report the incident right away, as many states have a set period in which you have to report your incident, in order to be covered by workers’ compensation. An injured employee who fails to report the injury within 30 days after the date of the incident, may end up losing the right to workers’ compensation benefits.
Therefore, if you don’t realize to the extent of how badly you are injured, still report it to your employer, as they can help implement new safety measures in your work place, and prevent injuries happening to you and others in the future. If you have been injured at work, follow these steps:
1. Report the injury
2. Have your supervisor write up a company accident report
3. Get a copy of the accident report
4. Get medical care from your company doctor or orthopedic surgeon in your area
Orthopedic doctors and occupational therapists are often who you go to, to help with your injuries and workers’ compensation case. Occupational orthopedists will help diagnose, treat, and manage your work-related musculoskeletal injuries (bone, joints, ligaments).
At Watauga Orthopaedics, many of our patients come to our practice because of work-related injuries. We strive to provide the best orthopedic care to those with injuries as quickly as possible. Our skilled team utilizes the most advanced techniques for shorter recovery times and faster healing, and focuses on getting injured employees back to work as quickly as possible.
Most importantly, our doctors and physical and occupational therapists provide comprehensive medical care to the injured worker, while our dedicated workers’ comp liaison keeps the employer, insurer, and case manager in the loop of the patient’s treatment and progress along the way.
Our workers’ compensation services include:
- Prompt evaluation and treatment of work-related injuries
- Timely response to referring physicians
- Comprehensive work status reports
- Development of return-to-work programs, including work restrictions and light duty assignments
- Functional capacity evaluations (FCE)
- Independent medical evaluations (IME)
It is important to report any workplace accidents to your employer right away. Remember, this is why they pay for workers’ compensation insurance, so that you can get prompt medical help that will both heal you and keep you on the payroll and back to work as quickly as possible. To learn more about workers’ compensation, and what to do if you are injured on the job, call Watauga Orthopaedics at (423) 282-9011 to request an appointment.
