When you are injured in the line of duty, you may need to prove the injury is work-related. Your employer’s insurance company may argue otherwise if you lack evidence to connect the injury with your work activities. Thus, it’s crucial to understand the best moves to make to strengthen your claim.
This guide discusses how you can prove you were injured at work:
Report immediately
You should report an accident immediately to your employer. This way, they can see the injuries and the scene. If the injury is gradual, such as back pain from sitting down for prolonged hours, you should report it as soon as you notice the symptoms.
In Texas, an employee should report an injury to their employer within 30 days from the date they were hurt or when they knew their injury or illness was related to work. However, the sooner you do it, the better for your claim.
Witness statements
If colleagues were present when you were injured, you should provide their details to your employer to collect statements from them when writing the first report of injury (FROI).
Video footage
Security footage is crucial in proving work-related injuries. If cameras are at the accident scene, it will be best to request the video footage.
Time cards
Proving you were at the office when the injury occurred can also help your case. Thus, you should obtain a record of your time cards.
Nonetheless, as mentioned earlier, you should report an injury immediately. Clocking out to go for lunch before reporting may disadvantage you.
Your employer’s insurance company can claim you were injured outside work to avoid compensating you. It may be best to get legal guidance to protect your rights.