Teen Injuries At Work: 3 Ways To Help Your Teen With Their Workers Compensation Case
Teenage employment laws vary from state to state. However, one thing that is the same is that teenagers are always entitled to a safe working environment. Unfortunately, accidents at work can still happen, and work-related injuries can be severe enough to impact your teen's future employment eligibility. For this reason, it is important for you to be aware as a parent of the right methods for helping your teen manage their worker's compensation case.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
The majority of workplaces have strict protocols in place for reporting a serious injury that occurs at work. Make sure that your teen informs their manager immediately of a suspected injury, and have them go to the appointed doctor. If you are uncomfortable with the diagnosis provided by the work-appointed physician, then you are also entitled to seek a second opinion. Remember that making sure your child's injury is treated correctly is the highest priority. Then, make sure to get documentation of any diagnosis that is made along with the recommendations for treatment.
Obtain Legal Representation
Teen work-related injury cases can get complicated since factors involving your teen's future prognosis along with their younger age play a role in the amount of compensation they may need to successfully recover. Fortunately, a workers compensation lawyer will make sure that a company does not take advantage of your teenager's lack of experience when it comes to developing a case. Your teen's lawyer will talk to them about the details surrounding the injury to determine if negligence on the part of the company or management played a role, and they will help you navigate through complicated proceedings that heighten the stress of watching your child deal with an injury.
Encourage Your Teen to Comply With Treatment
It is important to make sure that your teen complies with all recommended treatment methods so that they have the best chances for a successful long-term recovery. Even a minor issue such as a sprain can be complicated by a teen thinking that they can still attend sports practice, and something as simple as being spotted playing football or carrying in heavy groceries could complicate your teen's case. Encourage your teen to rest and recover until their doctor has given them clearance to resume their normal activities.
Getting hurt on the job is an unfortunate reality of being employed, and many teenagers are exposed to risky activities such as handling hot grease or walking on slippery floors during the course of a normal day. By knowing how to handle the first stages of filing a workers compensation claim, you can protect your child's financial security while giving them the best prospects for a healthy recovery. Contact a lawyer, like Mordhorst Law, for more help.