What to look out for when you are injured in an Arizona accident while you are on the job
by Arizona On the Job Injury Attorney - Mark Breyer
Reporting an Arizona Accident While at the Workplace
If you are involved in a serious accident at the workplace, you should report it immediately. If you are involved in an Arizona auto accident or other type of accident outside of the actual workplace, it is important to make sure a formal report is done. If that means making sure the police come down to the scene of the accident then we would encourage you to call the police. It is important to have the documentation from an outside source if you are not at the workplace that you were involved in an accident.
If you are at the workplace and it is a fatality or accident involving three or more employees where hospitalization is involved, employers must report the incident to ADOSH. ADOSH stands for "Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health." The report is required to be made within 8 hours of the accident. If you are unsure if the incident has been reported to ADOSH, you can call ADOSH at 602-542-5795. ADOSH keeps regular business hours and is closed on holidays. If the accident or fatality is outside of normal business hours, the Arizona State Capitol Police can be called at 602-542-4580.
If you are able to determine prior to the accident that you are required to do a job that is dangerous and will cause you to be in danger, you should discuss this immediately with your employer and document that you spoke to your employer about your fears. If your employer will not work with you on the matter, you have the choice to call ADOSH or the Arizona State Capitol Police.
Even if you are involved in a minor injury while on the job, you should still take steps to notify your employer. If you have any pain and discomfort whatsoever it is important to notify your employer right away and seem medical care. Review the circumstances with your employer so they can file the correct documentation. If you are in a car accident while working and it is in Arizona, it is still important to notify your employer as soon as you are medically able so you can let them know you were involved in an accident while on the job.
Workers compensation laws - injuries caused when on the job
There are workers compensation laws for when employees are involved in an accident. These laws apply to workers who are injured at the workplace or outside of the workplace. There is a substantial difference between workers compensation laws and personal injury laws. Although both are different if a person is hurt on the job by the negligence of a third party then both workers compensation laws and personal injury laws are intertwined much of the time.
Regardless of if there is a personal injury claim and a workers compensation claim, workers compensation benefits will still provide the employee with benefits for medical bills, lost wages, and if the worker is involved in a fatal work accident in Phoenix, the benefits will extend to the dependents of the workers family. If the accident involves an at fault person who is not an employer or co-employee of the injured workers then personal injury laws are applicable.
Ultimately, when you are hurt on the job whether by a third party, such as a car accident, or by other circumstances that happen on the job, it is your responsibility to file the workers compensation claim and file all the paperwork. You probably will need to obtain forms from your employer and medical records from your doctor. Most likely the attorney you hire can obtain these documents for you. If you are involved in an accident where there was another person who was at fault, your claim may require two attorneys, such as an Arizona personal injury lawyer and an Phoenix work injury lawyer. Every case is of course different. The best advice is that if you are hurt while working on the job that you contact a lawyer who can point you in the right direction and tell you what you must do when you are hurt on the job.
