After an accident on the job, you might wonder whether you need to report your injuries to your employer – especially if you don’t think your injuries are severe. However, notifying your employer of any work injury right away can be crucial for a few reasons.
Injuries could get worse
Too often, people don’t report their injuries because they think they are minor or think they must just “tough it out.” But you could be making a costly mistake if you don’t report your work accident injuries because they don’t seem serious.
Minor injuries can get worse over time. Alternatively, they can cause new injuries or exacerbate old ones. And injuries need not be catastrophic to be covered by workers’ compensation, so making a report is crucial.
To establish a workers’ compensation claim
If you ultimately pursue workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina, they could hinge on whether you reported the injury in a timely manner. If you fail to make a report, these financial remedies could be in jeopardy. And you could have your claim denied altogether if you wait more than two years.
In other words, you are responsible for reporting work accidents and injuries to your employer as soon as possible. Putting your notification in writing and keeping a copy for your benefit can be wise.
Reporting can protect others
Your injury may seem like a fluke or something that just happened after a clumsy mistake, but that may not necessarily be the case. Rather, it could be the result of dangerous workplace conditions or an environment that puts others at risk of suffering a similar injury.
Making a record of your injury can highlight bigger problems or call out safety violations that employers must address.
When in doubt, make a report
In situations of a catastrophic accident or obvious injury, you may not hesitate to notify your employer. However, even if you are unsure whether your injuries are severe enough or considered work-related, reporting them can be crucial in protecting yourself, your legal options and the safety of others.