New people>>filing a claim

[capricorn]

I read over and over the same question. "when/should I/let someone know I was injured. I thought it would help if I explained my story.

Five WC injuries, same employer. The first I was out of work for 18 months and returned to work with no restrictions. One year later I got my foot caught under a broken freezer floor and sprained my ankle. I filed a claim , made sure my employer was aware, went to the hospital and worked in a boot everyday until it healed. Six months later I slipped on ice in the employers parking lot. Filed a claim, made employer aware, and worked everyday with a concussion for 2 months. Two years later I injured my back (2nd time) and my right knee. Notified employer, filed a claim and returned to work with no restrictions 2 1/2 months later. Two years later, this present claim, I did the same thing. Notified employer immediately and filed a claim. I have now been out of work for almost 2 years. My reason for this post is so new people who ask "How long should I wait" "should I notify my employer" " should I go to a Dr." ABSOLUTELY! to all of the above questions. As you can see I never missed a days work with two of my injuries and probably should have. Had there been the need or something came back to bite me in the A%$ I would have been covered in that I notified the proper people immediatey. None of us ever knows where an injury is going at first. Protect yourself and notify the proper people and seek medical attention.

My oinion only,
CAP

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

Yes Cap, this is very true. That was why I kept pre-written first injury reports at work all the time. I let others also know where they were. I had informed many, to simply fill them out, even if they thought such injury was only a minor issue and not needing to see a Doctor.

The reason with me was simple, for our Boss would write injury reports on a Posted Note, and if say a week later the employee did have to see a Doctor, the Posted Note disappeared, and the Boss would act like the person never reported the injury. Therefore, I put a stop to the hanky - panky.

[capricorn]

Exactly BB...I read alot here from newbies and thos who have lurked and are just reading that they want to wait, not see a Dr.In some cases the employer tells them to do nothing which is an atrocity. As in your case I was always the one who made an employee , even if it was against their wishes, go see the Co. nurse and file a claim. Some amounted to nothing and some days later realized they were really hurt and thanked me. I think filing the claim is a small price to pay for what might be. I wish all IW understood this and protected themselves from DOI>

It's so nice to see you back. Feeling OK?? How's the knee??

CAP

[ksgirl]

We don't have a nurse where I work. If you get injured at work you have to drive an hour to see their drs. I had a couple of instances over the years where I figured it was just a pulled muscle and I was able to work with it. I still spoke with my supervisors and the HR department, just to let them know in case it got worse or wasn't a simple pulled muscle. The day I had herniated my disc, I told two coworkers, then my supervisor, and finally HR. They left it up to me whether I wanted to go to the dr or not. I worked for two days and finally had to go to the dr. It wasn't a pulled muscle. Thankfully my employer reported the injury quickly and have never questioned me about injuring myself at work.

My advice would be that when you are injured at work, don't only tell a supervisor and the HR department. Tell your coworkers what you were doing, what day and time, and how it made you feel. Also tell them who you reported the injury to. If for some reason your supervisor or HR wants to say you didn't tell them, you may have coworkers that will stand up for you.