If you have been injured on the job, you will need to file a workers' compensation claim. Workers' compensation will cover expenses like your medical bills, therapy bills, and the wages you lost while you're recovering from your injury. The law requires that all employers carry a workers' compensation policy on their employees. This protects you as the employee if you are injured, but it also protects the employer from being sued because workers became injured on the job. Here is an overview on what you should do if you find yourself injured on the job.
Report the Injury Immediately
As soon as you are able, you need to report the incident to your employer. This is for your protection, because the better the documentation you have on the injury, the easier it will be for your claim to be processed. If there are any witnesses to the incident, then you need to have them file a report as well. It will be difficult for you to lose your claim if there are a lot of eyewitness reports that all back up your statement as to how the injury happened.
Seek Medical Attention
As soon as you can, seek medical attention. Your doctor will keep a running record of each time you sought treatment with them, and what their own treatment plan is. If you are to be out of work for a long period of time, then your doctor will have that information in your file. This will help when determining how much compensation you will be awarded, because compensation will cover lost wages.
Hire A Workers' Compensation Lawyer
Your are better off retaining a lawyer to help you with your claim. While filing for workers' compensation is your right, it is a difficult process, and you want to be certain that you have the paperwork filled out correctly, and that you are presenting the correct medical documentation.
There is a possibility that the insurance company can deny your claim. While the denial could be based on the mere fact that you filled out the paperwork incorrectly, it could also be because you failed to provide accurate information, or it could be because the insurance company feels that your injury is not severe enough. When this happens, your lawyer will be able to assist you with the appeals process. Again, this can be a difficult process to handle on your own, so having an attorney on your side to assist you could ensure your success.
For more information, contact a lawyer specializing in these claims, such as The Law Firm of Fitzgerald, Reese & Van Dyne, Co.
