What can I claim compensation for after being injured at work?

A workplace injury can be severe and leave you unable to return to work. Without your income, you can quickly find yourself in debt, worried about paying bills, covering medical expenses, and more. This is where workplace injury compensation comes in to provide you with the money you need to support you as you recover. Knowing what you can claim compensation for can be challenging, which is why we are here to show you what can be claimed and how you can file your claim today!

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What to claim for after being injured at work

After you have been injured at work, there are four main things you can claim compensation for. There might be some variations depending on your claim, but a lawyer can help walk you through what you can claim for based on your injury. We have outlined the main areas of compensation claims below:

Pain and suffering

One of the most common claims is for pain and suffering, covering any physical or psychological conditions and injuries caused by your workplace injury. Quantifying pain and suffering is difficult as it is subjective, but your lawyer will do their best to provide you with adequate compensation.

Medical bills

Medical bills can also be claimed as part of your compensation claim. This can be to claim for any medical bills and treatment you have for your injury. You can also claim for any future medical bills you will have that relate to your injury. Many of these claims will include hospital bills, medication, physiotherapy, home car costs, and rehabilitation costs.

Loss of superannuation

If your injury stops you from working, you can claim for the loss of superannuation contributions you would have received if you were working.

Loss of income

Loss of income is one of the most important compensation claims to make, allowing you to recover the wages you have lost while you have been injured and unable to work. If your injury means you cannot work long-term, you can claim for future lost earnings too, allowing you to pay your bills and recover worry-free.

What to do after being injured at work – step-by-step

After being injured at work, it is important that you file a complaint promptly and start your claim to get the compensation you deserve. When claiming compensation, we recommend hiring a lawyer who can provide you with tailored advice and ensure you get the best outcome. After an injury at work, we recommend that you follow the steps outlined below:

1.   Seek medical help

First, you need to seek medical help to assess your injury and get the treatment you need. Depending on the severity of your injury, this might be an appointment with your doctor, or you might need to call an ambulance or visit the nearest hospital. You should also liaise with your employer’s first aider, who might provide some initial treatment, but this will depend on the severity of your injury.

2.   Inform your employer

As soon as you can you will need to inform your supervisor or manager about the injury. Tell them how the injury happened, if there were witnesses, and other information. They will then officially record the incident and the treatment you receive. You will need to keep your employer up to date with details of your injury and the treatment you receive too.

3.   Document the incident

When you can, we recommend setting aside some time to document the incident. Ideally you should do this as soon as possible, before you forget any of the minor details. Spend some time to write down how the accident happened, what injuries you sustained, and the medical treatment you receive. It is also beneficial to take pictures of injuries and where the accident happened.

4.   Speak to witnesses

If anyone witnessed the accident, you will want to take their details. Your lawyer might contact them to learn more details about the accident and to confirm your version of events. If the accident happened in an area covered by CCTV, we recommend that you obtain a copy of the footage too. Not only can this better help your lawyer understand what happened, but it can help with your testimony.

5.   File your claim

Next,  you can lodge a WorkCover claim form and submit it to your employer. You should include as much information as possible to prevent any delays. Your employer must forward the claim to their insurance company before the deadline. The deadline will vary, but if it is missed, you can submit the claim directly to the insurance company. Once the claim is submitted, your employer will need to keep you updated about its progress.

6.   Seek legal advice

We do recommend that you seek legal advice from a workplace injury lawyer. They will provide you with the support you need and guide you through the process, checking to see if you qualify for additional compensation, like a common law claim. If your employer was negligent and that caused the injury, then a lawyer can help you with this claim.

Find your workplace injury lawyer today.

After being injured at work, it is vital that you seek legal assistance to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. When finding a lawyer, we recommend checking out Smith’s Lawyers, who are specialist workplace injury lawyers who can help you. They have years of industry experience and will help you get the compensation you deserve. Reach out to them to find your workplace injury lawyers today.