If you get injured at work, you might not think you need to report it immediately. After all, not every work injury is a big deal, right?

Wrong!

If you are injured at work, you may not feel the impact of the injury immediately, but by delaying reporting it, you could put your workers’ compensation benefits at risk.

So, even if you don’t report your injury immediately (which we recommend), it’s best to report it as quickly as possible.

Most injuries must be reported and a claim filed with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation within one year of the date the injury occurred, or you will be barred from pursuing benefits.

Here are some reasons why you should report any work injury immediately.

People get injured all the time, but if you are injured at work, you are entitled to benefits. But, to do that, you need to establish that you were – in fact – injured at work. If you do it right away, it’s easier to establish where and when the injury occurred.  Reporting the injury right away also reduces the chances of your injury being questioned.

Of course, not all injuries happen immediately, like a burn, a slip and fall or something similar. Some injuries are caused by repetitive motion, like back pain, carpal tunnel or more. They can come on slowly, over weeks, months or even years. Obviously, you cannot report those immediately, but if you receive a new injury, report it immediately.

So, how do you report it? You can start by telling your supervisor or the Human Resources department.  If there is not a company form, you can given a written notification on a piece of paper, by e-mail, by text, etc.  However, you report it, it is important to always keep a copy of the report.

You also want to seek medical attention in a timely manner – if not the same day, as soon as possible. While your injury might seem minor at first, sometimes these injuries can get worse and lead to further damage and complications that can take you out of your job.   Additionally, the longer it take to seek and receive treatment, the more likely it is that you claim will be questioned.

Seeking treatment establishes the injury and shows you tried to get care.

Depending on the severity of your injury, the sooner you report it, the sooner your employer can start investigating how it happened and enact changes and policies that can prevent future injuries.

And you might need witnesses and other testimony to show how you were injured to help your workers’ compensation claim for your work injury.

Connor Kimmet and Hafenstein LLP

If you have questions about filing a claim, our qualified attorneys are here to help. Contact us today.