Last Updated on April 22, 2023 by Surender Kumar
Workplace mishaps are often avoidable but happen all the time. If you were injured at work in Portland, you should take action and protect your rights.
The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division is responsible for workers’ compensation claims, and while you can file your case, it is best to have an attorney on your side. Here are the steps you must take after getting injured.
Table of Contents
Seek medical care
No matter how small your injuries may seem, always seek immediate medical treatment. It may be hard to prove otherwise that you were injured at the workplace, which could impact your claim.
Report the work injury
As the injured worker, you are expected to report your work injury to your employer immediately. You should do so without any delay and after seeking medical care. Once you do that, the employer will file an accident report with the insurance company, and you need to get a copy of the report.
Get the details you need
You must obtain a list of physicians and doctors approved for future treatment and care. It would help if you also started gathering relevant info, such as your medical bills, the receipts you have paid for, and the contact information of your doctors. If there were witnesses to the mishap, take down their details.
Talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer
Not all injury lawyers in Portland deal with workers’ compensation claims, and therefore, expertise is the factor in choosing your attorney. The lawyer will help file the required paperwork and check other details, such as the possible liability of a third party.
Other things to know
Please note that state laws in Oregon require injured workers to report the injury to their employer within 30 days from the date of the accident. If you miss that deadline, you cannot claim workers’ compensation benefits. It is best to take action immediately. To get the benefits, your injury must be related to your work.
If you don’t report the injury immediately, the insurance company may argue that you were injured somewhere else. As per the state laws, an injured worker (or their family) could be entitled to the following –
- Temporary disability benefits
- Permanent disability benefits
- Medical expenses
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Death benefits
Talk to your attorney about other matters for your claim and let them handle the claims process. Most lawyers will not charge an upfront fee, allowing you to seek legal help without worrying about financial compensation.
I am a passionate blogger having 10 years of experience in blogging and digital marketing. I started List Absolute in 2018 to give my passion a live platform. I have also a good hand in writing unique and quality content. Here I contribute in my free time. Thanks for reading. Let me know if I can help you get your work done in a timely manner.