If I am Injured at Work, How Can I Protect my Rights?
CALL/TXT UTAH PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY JAKE GUNTER (801) 373-6345. LET HIS 20 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE WORK FOR YOU
It’s commonly understood that employers must provide a reasonably safe and healthy work environment for their employees. But sometimes, employers fail to fulfill this requirement and employees are injured as a result. These injuries can include everything from broken bones, occupational illnesses, even psychological injuries. In this article, we will examine workers’ rights when they are injured on the job. And if you or someone you love have been injured on the job, the personal injury lawyers in Provo at Howard, Lewis & Petersen are standing by to answer your questions.
If you are injured on the job, the most important way to protect your legal rights is to report the injury to your employer first thing. In some circumstances you may not be able to report the injury right away, but it is important to report as quickly as is practical.
The next step is to file a claim with the workers’ compensation court or industrial court in your area. This gives your employer and their insurance company formal notice of your injury. When your claim is filed, certain automatic rights are put into place, including:
- The right to see a doctor and pursue medical treatment
- If you are released to return to work by your doctor, you have the right to return to your job
- If your injury or illness prevents you from returning to work, either temporarily or permanently, you have the right to some type of disability compensation
- If you disagree with any decision made on behalf of your employer, you have the right to appeal that decision, and
- You have the right to be represented by a lawyer throughout the process.
In addition to your rights to act, you also have certain rights to refuse certain requests or offers. For instance, if your employer encourages you to use your own health insurance to pay for your medical treatment, you have the right to refuse. Or if your employer offers you a bribe in an attempt to dissuade you from filing a workers’ compensation claim, this is illegal and you have the right to say, “No.”
It is also important to note that in cases where a third party is responsible for your injury or illness, you have rights to seek compensation from them. These are called “third party claims,” and are usually civil lawsuits rather than workers’ compensation claims.
To learn more about workers’ compensation or personal injury law in Utah, click here or call the Provo accident lawyers of Howard, Lewis & Petersen today at (801) 373-6345.
