New Jersey and Pennsylvania residents know that everyone needs to work because bills never stop rolling in. However, what do you do after you hurt yourself at work? Do you work through the pain to ensure you have a paycheck at the end of the month?
In short, employees who try to work through an injury will make their pain worst. However, there are more reasons why workers shouldn’t tough it out after a work-related accident.
Making the injury worse
The worst consequence of working through an injury is putting yourself at risk for further injuries. You may start with a minor injury, but as you continue to work, you may make the injury worse over time. Instead of working, go to the doctor and make sure that your minor injury doesn’t turn into a larger issue in the future.
Causing complications in future claims
If your injury is from a work-related incident, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if you try to work after the accident, you may have your claim denied. If your claim is dismissed, you won’t be able to seek medical attention or treatment under your employer’s insurance carrier – no matter how severe the injury is.
Creating barriers for potential lawsuits
If your claim is denied, you will want to file a lawsuit to ensure you receive the proper coverage for your work injury. If you work after the injury, you may notice more hurdles to filing a lawsuit against your employer and their insurance company because there isn’t a clear connect between the accident and your current pain.
It is in your best interest to stop working after an incident and seek medical attention immediately. It protects your health, your job and potentially any claims you need to file in the future.
WARNING: THIS IS A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF LAW AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE. FOR ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY.