If you've been injured at work, you're likely suffering from complications that extend beyond your physical injury. It's important to know that you're entitled to receive compensation and benefits for your work injuries that last until you're able to return to work.
To lessen the chances of a wrongful denial of benefits or an early benefits termination, follow these seven tips. With this guidance, you can make sure your legal claim is successful, and you can receive fair compensation for your work injuries.
1. Report Your Work Injuries Right Away
If you get injured while on the job and you know you'll be missing work because of the incident, you need to report what happened immediately. That way you will be complying with all state workers' compensation regulations, improving your chances of receiving benefits as soon as possible.
2. Collect Names of Any Witnesses
If there were any witnesses at the scene of your accident, be sure to get their full names and contact information. If there is any dispute as to the facts of your case, you might need those witnesses to back up your claim and prove that you were actually hurt while at work as opposed to another location.
3. Obtain Medical Treatment Right Away
If you're hurt while at work, you'll need to see a doctor right away. If your accident has caused an emergency situation, tell your supervisor or the people at the scene that you need to be taken to an urgent care clinic or your local emergency room. It's critical that you seek treatment right away because if you don't, insurers may assume that you weren't hurt severely or not at all.
4. Explain the Details of How You Were Hurt
When you talk to your employer about getting hurt, describe all of the details accurately. If you got hurt but are not suffering from a specific trauma, it's possible that repetitive overuse or stress caused your medical symptoms, and you'll need to report the details of that. The workers' compensation system and insurers place a large amount of weight on what you say when you first report an injury, so you should be sure to describe all of the details as accurately and consistently as possible in your initial report.
5. Sign the Insurer's Limited Medical Authorization Form
The insurance company may ask you to sign an authorization form to get access to your medical records. As long as the request references only the medical records that relate to your specific work injury, then this is a reasonable request. The insurer has the right to view those records, although you should seriously consider speaking to a workers' compensation lawyer first.
6. Don't Provide a Tape Recorded Statement to Your Insurer
The insurer will most likely ask you for a recorded statement that describes your accident. Generally, you should not give this statement unless you've spoken to a lawyer first.
7. Regularly Attend Your Medical Appointments
It's important not to miss your medical appointments and also to keep a record of all of your treatment. Otherwise, the insurer could assume that your injury is not severe or has been resolved, and may cancel your benefits.
Getting injured at work doesn't need to involve the stress of wondering when your compensation will come or worrying that your benefits will be canceled. Following these tips will ensure that your claim is valid and proceeds through the legal system without issue.
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