Gibbons Law Firm: Workers Comp

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Steps to Take if Your Are Injured At Work

An employer takes certain precautions to keep employees safe. Safety procedures and practices, workers compensation insurance, consequences for breaking safety protocol are just a few of the ways employees work to protect their employees. Although many precautions are in place, work injuries do occur. If you are injured on the clock, it's important to take the proper steps for your situation. Take a look below to learn more about each step.

As your personal injury lawyer at the Lake of the Ozarks, it's important to know your rights as an employee who has been hurt on the job. Here at Gibbons Law Firm, we can help ensure your rights are being respected and you get the proper care you deserve.

Report Injury to Supervisor

As soon as an accident occurs, injury or not - report it to your supervisor. If an accident with no injury is reported, it can help prevent future injuries due to the same or similar situation. If an injury does occur, this needs to be reported as soon as possible. Your manager or boss will need to file an accident report with their workers compensation company. The quicker this gets rolling, the faster a resolution to your claim will come about.

Seek Medical Treatment

If needed, seek medical treatment for your injury right away. When you seek treatment, be sure the injury is documented as a work-related injury. This being noted in the paperwork can help represent your case, if needed. Follow instructions for your injury as closely as possible and don't return to work until you have been cleared by a medical professional.

Find Legal Representation

As you file your workers compensation claim, you may run into a manager or supervisor brushing off your injury. If you don't feel like your injury is being taken seriously, you may have a workers compensation claim at the Lake of the Ozarks. At this point or at any point you run into trouble filing your claim, it may be time to speak with a workers compensation lawyer in mid-Missouri.

Now that you know the steps to take if you are injured on the job, you're more prepared as you go to work each day. If you are unfortunately injured at work near the Lake of the Ozarks and feel like you aren't being treated fairly, contact our lawyer. We can help you walk through your situation and determine if legal representation could be of benefit to your case. Remember, your first consultation with our Lake of the Ozarks law firm is always free.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Tips to Protect Your Small Business From a Workers Compensation Claim

Owning a small business takes a lot of time and energy. As a business owner, you are likely looking for ways to reduce the chance of being involved in legal litigation. Here at Gibbons Law Firm, we understand your time and energy is best spent focusing on your business at hand. That's why we've dedicated this week's blog to showcasing a few ways you can help reduce the chance of your business being involved in a workers compensation lawsuit.

Properly Train Employees

When a new employee comes to work for your business, ensure they have the proper training on every aspect of the job they will be doing. The right training can help reduce the chance of an employee being involved in an accident at work. Take the time to explain why each protocol is in place to help your new employees better understand the dangerous potential of the job.

Clearly Mark Dangerous Areas

Use caution tape on the floor to mark hazardous areas in your business. If certain places are reserved for only approved personnel, mark these areas clearly to help eliminate any confusion. Also, be sure to use any signage to let employees and customers know about a potentially hazardous situation. If you have just mopped, make sure you have a wet floor sign marking the area!

Perform Regular Safety Checks

The daily tasks you and your employees perform can quickly become routine. Always have a constant eye out for a potential hazard that may present itself for your employees. Supervisors should perform safety checks on a regular basis to ensure all potentially dangerous situations are accounted for and well known.

Continually Educate About Employee Safety

It's a good idea to do regular training on workplace safety for your employees. This can help keep safety protocol top of mind as your workers complete their daily tasks. Even if your employees have the safety protocol down, it's important to perform a refresher course every now and then.

Ensure Employees Use Proper Safety Procedures

There are a number of safety procedures in place for all lines of work. Whether it's wearing the proper harness for employees on a boom truck or wearing a hard hat on a construction site, it's important that your employees practice proper safety procedures on a daily basis. Keep an eye out for employees and ensure they use the right safety protocol each and every day.

Establish an Open Door Policy

Employees should be encouraged to report any dangerous or potentially dangerous situations in the workplace. Your workers are doing the tasks on a daily basis and may notice a situation that may be a hazard before anyone else. Let your employees know you are open to hearing about potential dangers AND ideas of how to overcome these situations.

As your experienced business attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks, we know how important it is for a business owner to be able to put their energy toward running the business. By helping to avoid legal issues, you can use your time and energy doing what you love. If you do have a workers compensation claim against your business, it's important to have a lawyer at the Lake of the Ozarks on your side. Contact our Lake of the Ozarks attorney TODAY to learn how we can help you navigate the legal landscape that is often involved with owning a business.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.