Q: I have to go into work office to give injury report after being in a not at fault accident.

A: If you were involved in an accident and experienced pain significant enough to visit the emergency room, you had every right to seek immediate medical attention. Your employer may prefer to use a designated company doctor for workers’ compensation purposes, but that does not invalidate your right to be treated urgently or to provide your own medical documentation. A doctor’s note should be respected as proof of injury and a legitimate explanation for not reporting to work immediately.

Your employer can require you to submit an injury report and see their chosen provider for documentation under the workers’ compensation process, but they should not penalize you or express hostility for seeking care when you were hurt. If they continue to behave in a retaliatory or dismissive way, you should document every interaction, including dates, times, and what was said. Keep copies of all medical records, doctor’s notes, and emails to protect yourself in case of a dispute.

When you go in to provide the injury report, remain calm, bring all documentation, and clearly explain that you were in pain and sought immediate care. You are not obligated to justify why you didn’t wait for company transport when your health was at stake. Your well-being comes first, and your employer is still responsible for handling the situation within the bounds of the law. You have the right to be heard and treated with dignity after being injured.