Any traumatic incident can have an adverse effect on your mental health. Adding a physical injury can double the hardship. Falling into a whirlwind of trauma is not uncommon at times like this. Especially if the injury is work-related and one is also dealing with the fear of financial loss.
However, a work injury doesn’t mean financial loss. Worker’s compensation laws are made to protect workers from financial loss after a workplace injury. You only need to call for a good personal injury or work injury attorney.
Your workplace injury will turn into a personal injury case when the injury is caused by someone else’s negligence (lack of action).
In this excerpt below, we will advise you on how to deal with the trauma after a traumatic injury.
How To Cope After A Traumatic Work Injury
If you are dealing with physical and mental trauma after a work injury, take the following steps to take care of yourself.
1. Don’t Downplay Your Pain
Oftentimes employees fear a pay cut, and they start downplaying the pain. However, that is not the right way to look at your trauma. Not dealing with the pain at that moment can lead to even more dangerous mental health issues.
When you do not acknowledge and cope when the traumatic event happens, it gives you PTSD later. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is even more difficult to treat, and this could lead to work anxiety and depression.
2. Get Help Wherever You Can
Asking for help when dealing with a severe injury is nothing to be ashamed of. Especially when the fault wasn’t yours, you are subjected to this unexpected pain and trauma.
You can ask for help from your colleagues, senior members, family members, and, most important lawyer if you believe you are eligible for compensation.
3. Get An Insurance
Unexpected work injuries do come under the jurisdiction of health insurance. Plus, if workers are handling dangerous equipment, especially in construction industries, they are also bound to have workers’ compensation insurance in their name.
These insurances will pay a chunk of the medical bill, relieving you from the thought of financial loss. If talking to the insurance company makes you anxious, you can always get a lawyer to negotiate.
Not only will they not allow you to be intimidated, but they will also ensure you are paid the right compensation.
4. Take A Break From Work
Do not go back to work the moment you feel a little better. Every company has sick and sabbatical leaves in their policy. These are completely paid leaves; you do not have to worry about losing wages.
However, if there are any discrepancies leading to the sanction of your paid sabbatical, you can always talk to your lawyer.
If the law allows you to have a paid break after enduring an injury from the workplace, you are entitled to that. A good personal injury lawyer will ensure that.
5. Get Help For Your Mental Health
Injuries where you deal with excruciating pain and medical attention cause mental trauma. Going back to the same place or handling the machinery can be anxiety-inducing. This is why we suggest a CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
This is a series of therapy where you speak about your trauma out loud, recognize your triggers, and find ways to avoid or deal with them. CBT can make you mentally stable when you are finally ready to return to work.
6. Do Not Stay Alone
Sometimes we do not have an option, but staying alone at such a vulnerable time can lead to dark thoughts. Thus, worsening your trauma on the brink of healing. So, it is advisable to call a loved one home if you are physically compromised to move.
Ask a friend or even a work colleague whom you trust to stay with you. Anytime you find yourself engulfed with grief or emotional pain, talk to that person.
You can even call someone to help you talk out of a depressing thought and show you the positive side.
What To Do Right After A Work Injury
If you have just endured a work injury, and are feeling lost and confused, here are the things you should do right after a work injury.
1. Call For Medical Help Immediately
Do not downplay your injury, and try to act as if nothing has happened. Even if it was a slip and fall and you cannot physically see the blood, you still should seek medical help. This is not just for your physical well-being but also to get a well-documented medical statement of the injury.
2. Inform Your Immediate Manager
Whoever is immediately preceding you should know about your injury. This also ensures that, for some reason, if you have to file a worker’s compensation case, your employers are not ambushed.
Plus, if you are unable to join the office for a few days, your managers should know about it.
3. Document Everything
From the medical bill to the miscellaneous expenses which are helping you to recover from the injury should be well documented. Take videos, and photos, marking the journey of your injury.
If the case goes to a trial, these will eventually be your evidence.
4. Call For An Personal Injury Attorney
If you are yet to call for an attorney, do so right now. Because if you are dealing with a problem regarding either of the above, you have to get the same as making.
A Morgantown Work Accident Attorney will also calculate your compensation upon investigating the incident to ensure you are getting most of your expenses paid back. They will even be responsible for arranging witnesses who could testify against someone’s negligence in the workplace.
It Is Okay To Take Time!
A traumatic event will take some time to completely pass. Do not feel guilty or curse yourself for being unable to get your mind back to work.
Give yourself the time to cope with yourself, and indulge in self-care!
With time the trauma will pass; a good doctor will heal your body, a therapist will help you heal your mind, and a good lawyer will take care of the legalities and protect you financially.
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