Our Columbus Workmans Comp Lawyers Explain What To Do if You Get Injured at Work During the Holidays
While there is never a “good” time to get hurt at work, the holiday season is perhaps the worst time of all. Instead of making memories with your friends and family, you are forced to struggle through the season while worrying about whether you will be able to keep paying your bills on time. If you’ve suffered a work-related injury during the holidays, keep reading to learn what you need to know from our Columbus workmans comp lawyers.
1. Take Care of Your Situation (and Yourself)
Although you might be tempted to put off dealing with your work injury until after the holidays, this is a mistake. You need to take care of your situation—and, just as importantly, you need to take care of yourself. If you wait until after the holidays to see a doctor or file your workers’ compensation claim, this will make it much more difficult to collect the benefits you deserve.
2. See a Doctor of Your Own Choosing
Getting a doctor’s appointment on short notice can be difficult, especially during the holidays. But, you need to be persistent, and you need to be sure to see a doctor of your own choosing. While your employer might recommend (or even tell you to see) a specific doctor, you have the right to choose your own health care providers under Ohio’s workers’ compensation law—and it is important that you do so. A “workers’ comp doctor” who works with your employer won’t necessarily have your best interests in mind.
3. Prioritize Your Recovery
If your doctor tells you that you need to rest, you need to rest. Even if it means missing a holiday party or cancelling your travel plans, you need to prioritize your recovery regardless of the time of year. If you ignore your doctor’s advice and end up making your condition worse, this could have negative consequences for your workers’ compensation claim as well.
4. Know Your Rights
Ohio has a unique workers’ compensation system; and, while the law is complicated, it is ultimately designed to protect workers who suffer job-related injuries. With this in mind, it is a good idea to educate yourself about your legal rights. Our site contains a wealth of free information, and our Work Injury FAQs are a good place to start.
5. Talk to a Columbus Workmans Comp Lawyer
While you need to get started on your workers’ compensation claim promptly, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will need to deal with your claim throughout the holiday season. You can hire a Columbus workmans comp lawyer to help you, and your lawyer will be able to handle many of the most important aspects of your claim on your behalf. It costs nothing out of pocket to get experienced legal representation, and you can schedule a free initial consultation 24/7.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation with a Columbus Workmans Comp Lawyer
If you’ve been injured at work during the holidays in Ohio, we encourage you to let us help you through the recovery process. To speak with an experienced Columbus workmans comp lawyer in confidence, call 888-444-7440 or tell us how we can reach you online now.