If you are injured on the job, it’s very important to report your injuries to your supervisor right away. Whether your accident was caused by a vehicle accident, a fall from a high place, electrocution or an item falling on you, reporting it to your employer is one of the most important actions for you to take in order to protect yourself in case there are any complications days or weeks after the accident.

Often when an accident happens, it’s not obvious that you have been hurt. It may be tempting to try to shake it off and keep working, but symptoms of some injuries may not be noticeable right away. Report your accident immediately, and pay attention for delayed symptoms of work-related injuries.

Back Pain or Neck Pain

If your job is in any way physical, you may interpret back pain or neck pain to be ordinary reactions to hard work. Pain after a fall or any other type of accident could mean that you have hurt yourself more seriously than you realize. For example, you could have a spinal injury, a slipped disc, or whiplash.

Headaches

If you start experiencing headaches a day or more after an accident, don’t ignore this symptom, particularly if you hit your head when you were hurt. This could be a sign of a concussion, whiplash, a blood clot or a neck injury.

Abdominal Swelling or Pain

Injuries to your abdominal area may not be apparent right away, but symptoms may set in after a day or two. Unusual swelling or pain in your abdomen may indicate internal injuries, especially if you have other symptoms along with it such as nausea or vomiting. Don’t hesitate to have these symptoms checked out by a medical professional.

Dizziness

When you experience dizziness, your body is trying to tell you something. It could be an indication that you have whiplash or a concussion, or that you have some other type of head or neck injury. Feelings that the room is spinning or that you are uncoordinated shouldn’t be shrugged off. If you try to work while you are experiencing dizziness, you are at high risk of having another accident.

Confusion or Forgetfulness

Another sign that you may have experienced a head injury that is more serious than you thought at first is confusion or forgetfulness. When you find that you are easily confused, have difficulty concentrating and have memory problems that you didn’t have before the accident, see a doctor right away.

Psychological Trauma

Being in an accident in which you are suddenly hurt can be very upsetting and can lead to mood swings or feelings of fear or anxiety. Work may no longer feel like a safe environment, and if you are having symptoms of psychological trauma, see a doctor. Emotional symptoms are sometimes signs of brain injury, and they can also be signs of posttraumatic stress disorder.

If You Have Been Hurt at Work

When you’re hurt on the job, you might not realize right away that your injuries are as bad as they are. Regardless of whether you have symptoms, make sure your employer knows about your accident. If you postpone reporting the accident, your employer may not believe your injuries are work-related.

An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you understand your rights regarding compensation that you may be entitled to. If you have been hurt at work and have questions, contact Taos Injury Lawyers. Fill out the form on this page and one of our lawyers will get back to you to discuss your case. We are experts in the field of personal injury law and want to help.