What to Do If You Are Injured On The Job

You need to immediately note what caused your accident. Your injury may have been caused by defective equipment, missing safety devices, or even the negligent behavior of a fellow employee. It is extremely important for you to remember the facts and circumstances of the accident. Photograph the equipment if possible.

It is equally important to gather the names of all witnesses or any other persons that may have information concerning your accident. These persons include individuals that actually saw or heard the accident, workers who know about defects, rule violations, missing safety devices or slippery surfaces. Important witnesses include those who made complaints to the company previous to your accident regarding defects, rule violations, missing safety devices, slippery surfaces or anything else that could have caused your accident. You need the full name, address and telephone number of each of these persons.

Company rules may require you to complete an accident report immediately after an accident. If you are severely injured and/or under the influence of any drug administered to you for pain, you should not complete the accident report at that time. Ask your supervisor if the form can be completed at a later date when you are more mentally capable of setting forth the facts. If you have any difficultly in this regard, ask that your local chairman, general chairman or legal counsel intervene on your behalf. You should never provide the company with a recorded or written statement.

It is important for you to seek care from a physician immediately after an injury. The company may try to force you to be treated by a doctor of their choosing. You have every right to be treated by your own physician or someone you choose. Many times the company doctors are less than sympathetic or are influenced by their close relationship to the company. These doctors should be avoided.

You should give your treating doctor a complete history of how the accident occurred. This is important so that he or she can treat you and that the fact the accident occurred is written down in the medical records.

Remember a key fact: The company claim’s agents are very experienced in gathering information that helps the company save money. As friendly as they seem, they are not acting in your best interest.

For more than 50 years, Crow Law has been fighting for the rights of injured people.

People from all walks of life—from Sacramento and San Dimas to San Francisco, San Bernardino, San Jose, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Riverside and Oakland—turn to these personal injury lawyers for help in getting what is rightfully theirs. They represent injured people in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Oregon.