What To Do When You Get Hurt On The Job
When you get hurt on the job, you are entitled to certain rights and protections. The Workers’ Compensation program created by the Delaware Legislature provides benefits including medical care, temporary disability payments, and permanent disability payments.
Every employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance at no cost to employees. However, certain steps must be taken when you are injured on the job to ensure that you receive proper compensation for your injuries, treatment, and lost wages. According to the Delaware Office of Workers’ Compensation, if you are injured on the job, you should:
- “Immediately notify the employer in writing of the injury or occupational disease and request medical services. Failure to give notice or to accept medical services may deprive the employee of the right to compensation.
- Give promptly to the employer, directly or through a supervisor, notice of any claim for compensation for the period of disability beyond the third day after the accident. In case of fatal injuries, notice must be given by one or more dependents of the deceased or by a person on their behalf.
- In case of failure to reach an agreement with the employer in regard to compensation under the law, file application with the Office of Workers’ Compensation for a hearing before the Industrial Accident Board on the matters at issue within two years of the date of accidental injury or one year of knowledge of the diagnosis of an occupational disease or an ionizing radiation injury. All forms can be obtained from the Office of Workers’ Compensation.”
These requirements can seem stringent and harsh, but they are designed to provide a proper procedure for claiming workers’ compensation benefits. However, after an accident, you and your family may not be in the proper frame of mind to make sure that all the relevant paperwork has been filed. Additionally, your employer may contest your claim or refuse to pay for treatment. That’s when a skilled Delaware workers’ compensation lawyer can help the most. We know what you’re facing, and we know how to help you through the process.
Whether your claim has been complicated by these factors or not, a skilled Delaware workers’ compensation attorney here at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman can help get you the compensation you deserve. If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, visit our offices in Newark, Seaford, or Wilmington today, or contact us for a free consultation.
Attorney Jeffrey S. Friedman joined Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 2001. He graduated from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and in several Federal Circuit courts. He areas of concentration include auto accident and workers’ compensation cases. Read more about Attorney Friedman here.