Work-related injuries and deaths are all too common in Ontario, with thousands of employees suffering some form of work-related injury in the province every year. While certain professions, such as construction and manufacturing involving heavy machinery, are more prone to injuries than others, even people who typically work in offices or at a desk can suffer an unforeseen injury while on the job. Workers’ compensation laws in Ontario are notoriously complex and there are often strict statutes of limitations that injured employees must abide by in order to receive their fair share of compensation. Having a personal injury lawyer from Diamond & Diamond at hand who understands workers' compensation will help you ease through the process.

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Important Things to Know in the Event of a Work-Related Accident

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Types Of Work-Related Injuries

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Injuries suffered at work can range from the mild to the severe. In the most serious cases, involving more high-risk professions, victims may suffer permanent injuries, such as loss of limbs, paralysis, or brain injuries. These types of injuries tend to last for years after the accident, and in many cases, they will mean that the injured worker will be unable to return to their place of work for an extended period of time, if at all. Even physical injuries that do heal can still leave emotional scars that are likely to haunt victims long after the fact and have a negative impact on their work performance. In most cases, employees are not allowed to sue their employers for a work-related injury, but they are entitled to compensation from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).

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Appeals

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In some cases, the WSIB may turn down further compensation for an injured worker for a variety of reasons. For example, if the employee’s injuries have healed enough to allow them to work, but there are still certain tasks that are too dangerous for them to perform, then they may be unfairly asked by their employer to perform those dangerous tasks at work. Refusing to cooperate with the employer could compromise a WSIB claim, but at the same time, employees should never put themselves at risk for the sake of a pay cheque. Whenever a WSIB decision needs to be appealed, the worker will want qualified legal representation that can handle the complexity of workers’ compensation cases. The personal injury lawyers at Diamond & Diamond can help you with yours.

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Making A Claim

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When a work-related injury occurs, it is important to take a number of steps to ensure that a future WSIB claim is not rejected. The most important thing to do is seek immediate medical attention and to report the injury as a WSIB-type injury. The employer should be notified of the injury and it is generally a good idea to cooperate with the employer throughout the process. Injured employees should also gather the contact information of any witnesses and should keep detailed records of symptoms, medications, appointment, tests, and conversations with the employer. A Form 6 will need to be filed soon after the injury occurs and missing the deadline for filing this form could have serious repercussions on being approved for a claim. Since many injuries will make it difficult to complete the required paperwork on time, having a personal injury lawyer provide representation during the process is imperative.