Report First – ‘Tough It Out’ Later

The first thing you must do when you get injured on the job is to notify your supervisor immediately. You do not have to notify your employer in writing, but it makes your claim much easier if you do. Whichever way you choose to notify, make sure you indicate the date and the time of the accident, and every body part that was injured.

Notice should be given even for minor injuries. You don’t have to miss work to report an injury. You can choose to tough it out and keep working after you get hurt but you should document it whether or not you can continue to work. After reporting it to your supervisor, the next way to document your injury is to go see a doctor to get checked out. Whether you see your primary doctor or go to a clinic you want to make sure someone evaluates your injury so that if your condition gets worse down the road, you have already created a paper trail that will support you getting the treatment you may need later.

You Must Go Beyond Your Internal Claim Number

Once you report the injury, your employer may request that you fill out an incident report and even give you their own internal claim number. However, remember that reporting the injury does not mean that you have done everything to protect yourself. You still have to file a claim with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission to fully make sure you are protected.

Although it’s ideal to notify your employer of a work-place injury as soon as it happens, Maryland law states that an injured worker has ten (10) days to report the injury. The law even provides some exceptions if you report beyond the ten (10) day requirement, but late reporting can give your employer a basis to contest or dispute your claim even though you might have a valid workers’ compensation claim. Therefore, you should report your injury as soon as it happens.