If you have sustained a work-related injury, your employer may be responsible for helping you with lost wages or other accommodations. It is important to take the right steps when seeking medical treatment. First thing to do after being injured on the job is to NOTIFY your supervisor of the injury IMMEDIATELY. An injured employee, who fails to inform their employer within 30 days, may lose the right to workers’ compensation benefits.
Dr. Corey Anden has specialized in Work-Related Injuries for the past 30 years. You can be confident in her expertise to diagnosis and treat your problem. Our goal is to get you back to work!
Although there may be rare exceptions to this list, following it will leave you reasonably secure that your rights are protected:
- Report the injury. You should report the injury to your supervisor making clear your injury was caused by work. Under Utah law, you need to make the report within 30 days of the injury.
- Make sure your Supervisor prepares a company accident report. If your Supervisor won’t prepare the report, then you should write a letter stating the facts of your injury and give a copy of the letter to the Supervisor.
- Get a copy of the accident report and keep it in a safe place. If you prepare a letter, keep a copy of it.
- Keep notes of all significant contacts you have with anyone (including but not limited to supervisors, insurance company representatives and doctors) concerning your work injury.
- Under Utah law you should get medical care through the doctor selected by your employer. Don’t get frustrated if you are denied care. Keep demanding proper care through the insurance company.
- When seen, tell the doctor clearly and in great detail how your work caused your injury.
- At the doctors office, you will
- Follow all medical directions. If you don’t, your employer may argue that you chose not to get proper care and purposely stayed sick so you did not have to go back to work.
- If the doctor recommends you not do certain things at work, get the doctor to write that down and get at least 2 copies, one for the Supervisor and one for you to carry at work.
- Make sure that the doctor sends all bills to your employer for payment.
- If your employer and/or insurance company denies your medical care or the Company Doctor does not provide effective care, you have a right to seek effective medical care.