There is an inherent danger to working in many types of industries. Whether it is food service or construction, there are ways that an employee can be hurt on the job. Luckily, most employers have legitimate workers’ compensation insurance, but that doesn’t mean the employer is going to make it easy for a worker to get benefits. If you’re injured on the job, there is a chance that your employer’s insurance rates could go up, so it is possible that a less than honest employer may keep some information away from you. There are a few things that some employers won’t tell you about your workplace injury claim.

Hold Onto all Medical Documentation

In an effort to pay less in the long run, an employer may not inform you that you should keep documentation of all of your medical expenses and reports. It is important to hold onto all medical documentation having to do with your injury. This includes medical bills, doctor’s reports, emergency room charts and any other type of report having to do with your injury. You should even keep records of the miles you drove to get to and from any health care related visit. If you’re injured due to a construction accident, all of this documentation will be invaluable to your construction accident attorney.

You Don’t Have to do Anything

Your employer or their insurance provider may tell you that you “have to” sign off on something or make a statement in order to receive benefits. This is not true. They are likely trying to get you to settle for lower monetary damages than you deserve, and according to attorney David Perecman, these damages can be quite substantial. Anything you sign or any statement that you make can come back to haunt you in a big way. Employers and insurance companies are going to try their best to make sure you don’t get the reimbursement you deserve, because by doing this they will save money in the end. If you’re injured on the job, a construction accident lawyer can look over all documentation and inform you of what information you should give to insurance companies that will not harm your case.

Get Other Important Documentation

Medical bills are not the only documentation an injured worker should obtain. Your employer will likely not inform you of all of the documentation that can help your case, which is why you should familiarize yourself as much as possible with the paperwork and processes involved. This will only help you avoid errors that may later threaten your claim. Make sure that your employer fills out an accident report immediately following the incident. This report should list all of your injuries, and you should make sure to keep a copy for yourself. You should also get your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance provider’s information. Your employer may hesitate or outright refuse to give this information to you, in which case you should have your lawyer handle the situation. It is also important to hold onto any statements made by your employer, their insurance company, or witnesses to the accident. Finally, every employee should keep records of their wages. This will ensure that you’re able to get the appropriate benefits should you be injured on the job.


Employers should report accidents to their workers’ compensation insurance provider immediately, but unfortunately some employers will try anything to stop you from receiving benefits. Since there are several nuances to workers’ compensation law, it is important for anyone injured on the job to contact an attorney immediately following their accident. An attorney will make sure you know all of your rights and help to ensure you get all of the benefits you deserve.

Alan Gray is an author and law student. He regularly contributes articles to the personal injury associates at perecman.com who have been very successful in getting injured workers the compensation they deserve.