Documenting Your Workplace Injuries as a Healthcare Worker

Working in healthcare means showing up for others during their most vulnerable moments. But when you are the one who gets hurt on the job, navigating the workers’ compensation system can feel overwhelming.

The details you record today could determine whether you receive the benefits you are entitled to tomorrow.

If you have been injured at work, knowing how to document your experience can make all the difference in securing the support you need to recover. Learn more from the Minneapolis workers compensation for healthcare workers lawyers at KSK Law.

Common Workplace Injuries Among Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare workers face physical demands that put them at risk for a wide range of injuries. These conditions can sideline even the most experienced professionals.

Here are some of the most common workplace injuries affecting healthcare workers:

• Back strains
• Shoulder injuries
• Neck pain
• Herniated discs
• Knee injuries
• Wrist sprains
• Rotator cuff tears
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Needle stick injuries
• Cuts and lacerations
• Slip and fall injuries
• Chemical burns
• Exposure to infectious diseases
• Fractures from patient handling

How Documentation Strengthens Your Workers’ Comp Claim

If you are hurt at work in Minnesota, you have the right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits. However, the workers’ comp insurance provider may question the severity of your injury or whether it truly happened on the job.

Comprehensive documentation answers those challenges before they arise. 

When you maintain detailed records of a workplace injury—medical reports, witness statements, photographs, and written communications—you create a paper trail that is difficult to dispute.

These documents establish a timeline, provide evidence of causation, and demonstrate the impact of the injury on your ability to work. This evidence becomes especially critical if your claim is denied or delayed, giving your attorney the foundation needed to advocate effectively on your behalf.

Steps to Take Immediately After a Workplace Injury in Minnesota

Acting quickly after a workplace injury protects both your health and your legal rights. Delaying medical treatment or failing to report your injury promptly can give insurance companies grounds to question the validity of your claim or deny your benefits altogether.

Here’s what you should do after the accident:

• Seek medical attention immediately, even if your injury seems minor at first.
• Tell your treating physician exactly how the injury occurred and explain that it happened at work.
• Provide your doctor with your employer’s name and workers’ compensation insurance information.
• Notify your employer about your injury as soon as possible, preferably in writing.
• Send your injury notification to your employer via certified mail with a return receipt requested.
• Keep a detailed record of your symptoms, pain levels, and how the injury affects your daily activities.
• Take photographs of any visible injuries, unsafe conditions, or the accident scene if possible.
• Write down the names of any witnesses who saw the incident occur.
• Save all medical records, bills, prescriptions, and treatment instructions related to your injury.
• Document any time you miss work due to your injury.
• Follow up with your employer to confirm they have filed the First Report of Injury form.

Get Legal Guidance for Your Workplace Injury Claim

When an injury forces you off the floor, you deserve workers’ compensation benefits to help you get back on your feet.

Kemmitt, Sanford & Kramer has represented healthcare professionals who were injured while serving others and then had to fight for the benefits they earned.

If you plan on filing a workers’ comp claim, contact us at (877) 630–7338 and let our attorneys build a compelling case in your favor.