Have you suffered an injury or sustained an illness owing to your work? If so, you may be entitled to lodge a workers' compensation claim. Sometimes referred to as a workers' comp claim, a workers' compensation claim is a compensation scheme undertaken by employers to cover financial losses that their employees may suffer if they get injured or sick because of their work.

Workers' comp schemes typically provide financial coverage for medical bills, lost wages during recovery and rehabilitation, lawsuits related to work-related injuries and more. It is advisable to bring in a professional workers' comp lawyer to help with filing your compensation claim, but before doing so, you should take the following steps:

Get Immediate Medical Assistance 

Your health and safety is a top priority. Therefore, the first thing you should do if you get injured at work is to seek immediate medical care. This will help to alleviate your pain and suffering but also keep your injury from getting worse.

Depending on the medical perks that your employer offers, you can see the employer's doctor, your own doctor or either. 

Tell Your Employer About Your Injury

Your employer is responsible for the health and safety of all their workers. If you suffer an injury because of your work, you must inform them about the injury. This will start the process of you receiving financial compensation for your injury.  

Some employers also require that you tell their insurer about your injury, so make sure you do so if necessary. 

Ask for a Medical Report From the Doctor

Once your condition has been stabilised and you've told your employer (and their insurer) about your injury, you should ask your doctor to provide you with a medical report. The report will indicate the type and extent of the injury that you sustained and will state how long it might take for you to get back to work. This will help to determine how much compensation you should get for your injury. 

You're not legally required to hire a lawyer to help you with making a workers' comp claim. In many cases, employers and their insurers are cooperative and will approve your claim within a reasonable time-frame. But if your employer or their insurer isn't willing to help you financially following a workplace injury, the way to get the coverage you deserve is by bringing in a compensation lawyer. They will fight for you while you focus on recovering from your injury.