Suffering An Injury On The First Day At A New Job
Did your first day at a new job end with you suffering from a bad injury that required prompt medical attention? If your supervisor is now threatening you with termination if the injury leads to missed work, don't feel bad about the situation. It is not likely that the state laws will allow him or her to fire you due to getting injured and needing some time away from work. The best way to find out what your rights are and how to get through the situation without it escalating into something major is to contact a personal injury lawyer. In this article, you will find an overview of how your work injury situation can be resolved legally.
Your Extent of Training for the Job
Hiring a lawyer will likely lead to a consultation that includes discussing how much training you had before starting your job. The lawyer will need information in regards to how qualified you were for the specific task that you were working on when the injury happened. For example, were you hired to perform work that was entirely different than what your supervisor made you do? Did he or she make you go through any training or verify that you can actually perform the work in a safe manner?
Why You Need Time Away from Work
Part of the discussion that you will have with your lawyer is why you must take time away from work. Did seeking treatment for the injury lead to your physician requiring you to take time off for proper healing to take place? The lawyer might ask about the extent of the injury, as well as how it affects your ability to work. It is common for vocational experts to be contacted by lawyers so evidence can be gathered concerning what is needed to perform specific jobs.
How You Can Keep Your Job
The reason why assistance from a lawyer is important is that he or she will know your rights based on the work laws in your state. The lawyer will know how to contact your supervisor and discuss why he or she shouldn't terminate you based on the injury that you have. Communicating with your supervisor will be done professionally, such as your legal rights being discussed cordially. It is likely that the presence of the lawyer will lead to your supervisor cooperating, but the lawyer can continue assisting in other ways if the situation escalates negatively.
The Money You Might Qualify For
Taking time away from work doesn't mean that you will have to worry about making money as your injury heals. A lawyer can help you obtain money for your needs while you are off work. He or she will first have to find out if your employer has workers compensation insurance in place. If so, the lawyer can help you go through the application process to obtain the benefits. However, if your employer refuses to give you the benefits, taking further legal action might be necessary.