Whether you believe you were injured or not, you want to file an accident report if you had an accident at work. Why is this so important? This will be your first documentation of your accident and will be persuasive evidence if you need to file a claim for compensation for injuries. It is especially crucial to file one when you work for a nonsubscriber employer who has opted out of workers’ compensation as you will need to prove your employer’s negligence to be entitled to compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.
What Should I Be Certain Is Included in the Accident Report?
Your first step after an accident—after obtaining necessary medical treatment—is to report your accident to a supervisor or manager. Depending on your employer’s procedures, he may complete the report or may ask you to fill out a form yourself. You want to be certain the following information is included in the report:
- Exactly how and when your accident occurred—including as many details as possible
- Parties involved in the accident
- The nature of any injuries you know about to any part of your body—do not omit anything, no matter how minor
- Medical treatment you have received, if any
Be certain to obtain a copy of the accident report. If you later discover additional injuries, ask to amend the report and get a copy of this as well. Do not be surprised if you need to do this. Adrenaline can mask symptoms or they can take days or weeks to emerge.
Filing an accident report promptly and being certain it contains essential information can go a long way in avoiding problems with your claim down the road. However, not filing one right away because you honestly did not believe you were injured is not fatal to your claim.
Have You Been Injured At Your Texas Job And Your Employer Doesn't Provide Workers' Compensation?
If you've been injured on the job and your employer is non-subscriber you need to speak with an experienced work injury lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our our Colleyville office directly at 817.485.8888 to schedule your free consultation.
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