Hurt at Work? How to Get the Compensation
When negligence comes into play, workplace injuries are bound to happen. You could have been the most cautious employee at your job, but when others failed to take proper precaution, you suffered. In Providence, the Workers Compensation Act will ensure that you get the financial support you need, automatically, no matter whose fault it is. However, depending on the severity of the injury, the Workers Compensation Act may not cover everything. Without question, you need a workers’ compensation attorney to make sure you receive all the benefits to which you are entitled after getting hurt at work.
First task you need to complete, is to report your injury to your employer as soon as it happens. Through immediate communication and photo documentation of the injury, you allow your employer to formally document the accident and inform the insurance company. Whether or not workers’ compensation can fully support you, you need to take that step to get the basic coverage that you need.
Now, if you realize that your workers’ compensation is not enough, there is another way you can seek further restitution – by filing a third party claim lawsuit. If you were injured by a defective product or a toxic substance, you might have the legal grounds to sue a third party for their negligence. Unlike the Workers Compensation Act, you can receive additional compensation for “pain and suffering” as well.
Of course, there needs to be a distinction between the insurance company and third parties. The insurance company from your employer will automatically pay you compensation no matter whose fault it is. With a third party suit, the defendant needs to be proven negligent and that it was that negligence that caused the plaintiff to suffer. If successful, you may receive another payout in addition to the workers’ compensation.
Remember: you can’t prevent everything that life throws at you, but you can definitely make choices that will put you in the best situation possible when you are hurt at work in Providence.
