Attorneys at the New Jersey-based firm Kaplan and Kaplan say no accident should go unreported, nor should you wait to report an accident you have at work. The law firm’s website says many people are afraid to “make waves” in their work place by reporting accidents. Kaplan and Kaplan has operated for 50 years and has specific attorneys who specialize in workplace injury claims through its Wayne Workplace Accident Lawyer program.
Not reporting an accident not only endangers your health and welfare, it also gives companies a leg up over you and your workers’ comp claim even if your claim is legitimate. If you don’t report an accident as soon as it happens, the company can come back and say that you may have received your injury outside of work, and be better able to contest your claim. This can happen even if the workplace conditions were legitimately unsafe and even if you were doing everything in your power to work safely and in accordance with your company’s safety policies.
No matter what type of accident you have, you need to know your rights and always, no matter what, report the accident right away and be certain that is documented on official company records. Kaplan and Kaplan offers basic information on its website and provides contact information for attorney consultations.
Comp costs in retrospect-your employer’s perspective
Comp claims can cost companies a fortune in hiked insurance premiums. Comp rates keep eating at profits long after the lost work time is made up for, and to make matters worse, reportable accidents put your facility on OSHA’s wanted list. So you’ll pay for accidents even if no worker ever files a specific suit beyond the comp claim.
Just as workers have a right to know their rights and exercise their options, the company also has the right to protect itself. By maintaining a safe workplace for employees and by training employees properly for safety on the job, they are protecting everyone who is involved with the operation, from the material handler to the shareholders and the CEO.
Mutual protection
Avoiding comp claims doesn’t have to mean there must be an adversarial relationships with between the company and employees. Quite by contrary, if a company gives employees proper safety training, you, as an employee, are in good hands. You want to go home in the same condition you arrived in-walking, with all ten fingers and all ten toes. Safety training, such as forklift training, may seem surprisingly basic, but then, so are the causes of serious injuries and fatalities for workers, OSHA studies show.
Given the proper training, you will know how to avoid accidents. An employee who is given proper training and who demonstrates proper understanding of what their training means should be able to pass applicable tests whose criteria is recognized by OSHA and should be able to avoid accidents if equipment is properly maintained and you are adhering to safety rules.
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