Becoming injured at work can result in a difficult time for any employee. You are probably managing several issues simultaneously; getting treated for the injury, figuring out how and why it happened, and wondering what to do next.
Timeline of events
- While you should get treatment for your injury right away, time is of the essence in reporting your injury to your employer. The state of Florida requires that you inform your employer of your injury by 30 days from when you sustained the injury.
- Keep as many written records as possible regarding the incident.
- Make sure that you record all correspondence between you and your employer about the accident, all medical records you can access, with as much detail as possible.
- If your accident is severe enough to prevent you from completing an incident report, ensure you give verbal notice in front of as many witnesses as possible. After the hospital releases you from the hospital, follow up with a formal message with as much detail as possible.
Critical information to include
- Your full legal name, mailing address and phone number.
- If possible, the exact date and time of the accident.
- The precise location of the accident
- How you became injured
- All symptoms that arose from the injury from the moment you became injured until the present day
- Any comments or mentions regarding the injury made by anyone at the scene of the accident
A workplace injury is traumatic for anyone, and the reporting process can seem daunting. An additional burden you will have to carry.
It is imperative, however, that you report your injury correctly for your protection. If you need assistance doing so, reach out to an experienced workers’ compensation professional.