If you get hurt at work, you might be tempted to take some aspirin and tough it out, rather than file an accident report. Or, you might worry that your boss will think less of you if you report an injury. These fears are common among Omaha workers, but staying silent can hurt you more than speaking up.
In fact, reporting your injury to your supervisor is a legal requirement that protects your right to workers’ compensation benefits.
Nebraska law requires you to report workplace injuries
You need to notify your supervisor of an injury as soon as reasonably possible after it happens. While this should be immediate, that’s not always possible. However, unnecessary delays raise red flags and give insurance companies ammunition to deny your claim. If you decide to file a workers’ compensation claim, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to do so, though this deadline can extend if your employer has been making compensation payments.
Immediate reporting creates several layers of protection:
- The incident goes on record while details are fresh and witnesses remember what happened.
- Your employer can’t claim the injury happened somewhere else when there’s documented proof it occurred at work.
- Insurance companies have less room to dispute your claim when you report promptly.
- You establish a paper trail that supports your case if complications arise later.
Even injuries that seem minor at first can develop into serious problems. That twinge in your back today might be a herniated disc tomorrow.
Report your injury the right way
Keep your report simple and factual. Tell your supervisor when the injury happened, where you were working, what you were doing and what hurts.
Always follow up verbal reports with something in writing. Request an incident report form, fill it out completely and keep a copy for yourself. Don’t downplay your symptoms. If your shoulder hurts, say so. If you can’t put weight on your ankle, write that down.
Nebraska law prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who report injuries or file workers’ compensation claims. Your employer can’t legally fire you, demote you or punish you for reporting a workplace injury.
Protect your rights after an accident
When you report your injury, you’re following the law and protecting yourself. The workers’ compensation system exists to help injured employees, but it only works when you take that first step of notifying your supervisor.