I Got Hurt on the Job: What Should I Do?

Work-related accidents can occur without warning, leaving you in pain and possibly unable to work. If you’re hurt on the job, it’s important that you take immediate action to ensure your injury heals fully and to protect your employment rights.

At MidJersey Orthopaedics, in Flemington, Bridgewater, and Washington, New Jersey, we have extensive experience navigating the ins and outs of a worker’s compensation claim.

Our highly skilled orthopaedics team works closely with you from your initial diagnosis to ensure you recover efficiently from a workplace injury.

Workplace injuries require immediate action

As soon as you get hurt on the job, even if it appears to be only a minor injury, alert your supervisor. If you fail to make your employer’s management team aware of the date, time, and nature of your injury, it could negatively affect your ability to access worker’s compensation benefits.

The next step to take is to seek medical attention for your injury. If you have a serious injury, such as an open head wound or a broken bone, call 911 or get to the nearest hospital emergency room for urgent medical attention.

If you think you have a muscle strain or ligament sprain, schedule a diagnostic evaluation with our team at MidJersey Orthopaedics. An early evaluation ensures you get a proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent the injury from worsening.

Often, injuries can seem minor right after an accident because your body is flooded with adrenaline. However, pain, swelling, and bruising can develop later and become more difficult to treat as your injury progresses.

Follow through with your care plan

Our orthopaedic team offers diagnostic testing in-office to assess the nature and severity of your injury. Testing may include bloodwork to identify infection, X-rays to check for fractures, or ultrasound imaging to locate soft tissue tears.

Once we have your results, our physicians discuss your options for treatment. They help you make the most informed decisions about your health, so you can get back to work as soon as possible.

Your provider continues to document all testing and treatments you have for your work-related injury to support your worker’s compensation claim. We focus on nonsurgical therapies for many types of injuries and can also recommend surgery when needed.

It’s important that you follow the guidance of your orthopaedic specialist to ensure damaged soft tissues or bones heal fully. We can also recommend physical therapy and other rehabilitation services to restore your strength after the injury heals and lower your risk for additional injury.

Timing for your return to work

Everyone heals at their own pace and our providers continue to monitor your healing process during routine follow-up visits.

Your orthopaedic specialist creates a return-to-work plan, so you can get back to your job duties when it’s safe to do so. They can also assess the demands of your job to determine if you can return to full duty or if you need special accommodations while you continue to heal.

We also value the importance of education and prevention. Our team can discuss strategies you can use to work more efficiently without increasing your risk for additional work-related injuries.

Call the MidJersey Orthopaedics office in Flemington, Washington, or Bridgewater, New Jersey, today to schedule a worker’s compensation consultation. You can also book an appointment online.