7 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Workers’ Comp Claim
Every 7 seconds, a worker somewhere is injured on the job. That’s 12,600 injuries that occur in the workplace a day.
In the construction industry, common reasons for these injuries are falls, slips, electrocutions, and being struck by objects.
The most common reason for a workplace injury that results in lost work days is overexertion. Repetitive motions and lifting or lowering strains account for over 33% of all workplace injuries. Contact with objects and equipment and slips, trips, and falls, account for the rest of those injuries.
If you’ve sustained an injury in the workplace and you’ve already filed a claim, it’s important that you have the right comp tips to follow so that you get the most out of your claim.
Chances are the accident wasn’t your fault. And even if it was, you still may be eligible for compensation. Unfortunately, there are many worksites in which rules and regulations aren’t properly followed, equipment isn’t checked regularly, and proper training isn’t being given to employees.
Keep reading to uncover seven tips that will help you get the most out of your claim.
1. Document Everything
One of the best workers comp tips you can live by is to document everything that has to do with your injury.
First and foremost, tell your boss immediately after your injury. Ask him or her what paperwork you should file, if any, to put your injury in writing and document that it happened.
If you miss the deadline to report your injury, you could miss your chance to file a claim. You should also document any conversations you have concerning the injury and write down everyone who was there to witness it.
Keep the details of conversations to yourself so that you can show it to your lawyer if need be. Make sure that you also notify your employer in addition to your boss, if they are two different people.
2. Take Photos and Seek Medical Assistance
Take photos of your injuries and go see a doctor. While you may receive x-rays, your injuries may not show up. Take pictures of any scrapes, cuts, bruises, or bigger injuries that you incurred in your accident.
While you may feel that your injury is not that bad immediately after, a big part of this could be due to shock. It’s essential for your well being and your claim that you seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Make sure that you get copies of any medical visits, procedures, and bills to keep for your record or for your lawyer.
3. Write Everything Down
We mentioned this already, but we’ll mention it again because it could make or break your case. Write down dates and times, along with conversation notes, accident notes, and doctors visits.
That way, you’ll never be wracking your brain to remember days, times, incidents, or conversations.
Most importantly, document your entire accident from beginning to end as soon as you feel well enough to do so. If you’re unable to write, ask someone you trust or hire a lawyer to take notes for you. In doing so, you may uncover the cause of an accident. If it becomes known that it was a defective product or piece of equipment that caused the accident, you may be able to acquire compensation from that manufacturer.
4. Call Your Union
If your employer or boss is giving you resistance throughout the process of filing your claim, missing work, and or going to the doctor, your union should be able to help.
5. Understand Your Benefits
It’s essential that you know and understand what benefits you may qualify for. Depending on your injury, you may be eligible for temporary disability benefits, permanent disability benefits, ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation both for your injury and your job, and mileage for all of your travel to and from doctor’s offices.
Furthermore, if your accident was as a result of faulty equipment or a lapse in protocol, you could be entitled to additional damages.
6. Follow the Advice of Your Doctor
It’s essential that you follow your doctor’s orders, to a tee. The last thing you want is to make it seem like you are falsifying your claim just because you decide to play in a soccer game or do an activity that’s part of your everyday life but isn’t recommended by your doctor.
Some insurance companies will even hire a private investigator to follow you around if they feel that your claim isn’t credible. Follow the doctor’s orders and don’t post otherwise on social media. In fact, stay away from social media altogether if you can, while your claim is processing.
7. Consider Hiring a Lawyer
If you’re wondering how to win a workers compensation case, the answer is to hire a workers compensation lawyer.
If your claim is simple, or if your company voluntarily pays for your claim, you might not need one. But if your claim is complicated or if your benefits have been denied or reduced, you may need one.
If the insurance company ignores your claim or your requests for information, you’ll need a workers’ compensation lawyer to take over. Furthermore, if the insurance company makes you a settlement offer, you should absolutely hire a professional to help with your claim.
Take a look at some of our other cases and the compensation that we were able to get for our clients.
Following Workers Comp Tips Can Make or Break Your Case
Sustaining an injury at your place of work can result in a lot of stress, pain, and empty pockets. In order to get the compensation that you deserve, it’s important that you follow the aforementioned work comp tips.
An injury lawyer will be able to look at every aspect of your job, the accident, the work environment, and your medical needs to add up and determine what you are entitled to.
If you’re having trouble with your claim and you feel like you’re entitled to more, you won’t lose out by giving us a call! Contact us for a FREE consultation and some peace of mind, today.
