Why You Need To Report Maryland Work Injuries

It is an unfortunate reality that people get hurt at work. While some of these injuries are small, others require medical care and long recovery periods. For example, severe injuries are possible when falls result in back injuries or there are car crashes in work vehicles.

After any work injury, minor or severe, injuries should be treated by a healthcare professional and reported to your employer. There are legal protections in place to help you following a Maryland work injury, including your right to take time off to heal under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and workers’ compensation benefits to cover expenses for medical care and wage loss. Workers’ comp insurance is a requirement for many employers and comes with a relinquishment of an employee’s option to sue an employer for negligence. Talk to a Baltimore workers’ compensation lawyer to learn more.

Why You Need to Inform Your Employer

Letting your employer know when you are injured is important as it can support your damage recovery efforts should you move forward with a legal action or workers’ compensation claim later. Notification should occur when an injury occurs or as soon as an occupational disease is diagnosed or recognized.

Telling your employer, providing verbal notice, is acceptable but a better option is a written report, when possible. Written notices provide solid documentation, and your employer likely has a form in place for this specific purpose.

Include the following in your written notification:

• How and where the illness or injury was sustained.
• The names of the individuals involved and their contact information.
• At the time of the injury or illness, the type of work that was being performed.
• Any details about where the person is heading to receive treatment or doctor’s diagnosis and treatment plans if medical care has already been accessed.

When in doubt, add too many details to your report rather than not enough. While most employers are sympathetic to worker injuries, there are situations in which an employer, or their insurance, fights a workers’ comp claim.

Talk to a Lawyer with Experience In Workers’ Comp Cases

If you work in an unsafe environment or have been injured at work and believe your employer is not taking your rights to workers’ comp benefits and a safe working environment seriously, talk to a Baltimore workers’ compensation lawyer. Workers have rights, there are federal laws and state protections in place. You do not have to accept the word of your employer if you believe they are not being transparent about your legal rights. Instead, talk to a legal expert who will advocate for you.

Are you recovering from an illness or injury you sustained while at work in Maryland? If your employer has illegally denied your right to workers’ comp payments or you believe you have been treated unfairly, contact the attorneys at Iamele & Iamele, LLP. Our lawyers know how to obtain the financial recovery you deserve. We are committed advocates for injury victims and Maryland workers. Contact us today for a free consultation.