Why do work injuries go unreported

When an employee is injured at work, they should report to the employer. This ensures they receive just compensation to cover medical costs, lost wages and other damages. However, a significant percentage of work-related injuries go unreported.

Below are three reasons this happens:

Fear

Fear is a broad subject concerning reporting work injuries. An employee may fail to report because they fear fighting with their employer should they refuse to take their case seriously, retaliation against them, being viewed as unreliable/incompetent, being asked to go through numerous medical tests, and so on.

However, if you are injured, you should report as the law protects you from most of these fears. Besides, not reporting or getting the help you need may lead to other fears, such as being unable to perform as before. Thus, even though it can be challenging, keep your head high and report it.

Injuries are “part of the job”

The mentality of “it’s part of the job” is responsible for serious injuries that could have been avoided if they were treated sooner. Just because many people in an occupation have suffered a particular injury does not make it normal. Employers should observe certain measures to prevent such injuries. 

Unaware of the protection they have

Some employees fail to report injuries because they don’t know if they should. They may believe being injured is their responsibility and should personally get the help they need. But this is not true. The law substantially protects you. If you are injured while in the line of duty, your employer may be liable.

These three factors cause many employees not to report injuries. If you are injured at work, you should learn more about your case and how you can get workers’ compensation benefits.