5 Mistakes That Can Harm Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

If you have been injured at work, you might be thinking about what you should do next. You might be wondering if there is an easy way to handle this unfortunate situation. 

Well, hiring a workers’ attorney is the simplest way to get adequate compensation for the loss. However, it would be best if you also stayed abreast of what can destroy your workers’ injury claim. Some of the common mistakes that can harm your claim are as follows-

Not Reporting The Accident Properly

If you have been injured at the workplace, the first step is to report the accident to the employers. They have an accident policy in the employee manual. In this case, follow the guidelines set out in the manual.

However, if there is no accident policy, it’s best to let everyone know about your injury, including your co-workers, supervisors, or human resource people. 

Furthermore, the employers of insurance agents may stop you from filing the claim, saying they were not notified about the accident at the right time. Also, the employers may say that they owe you nothing if you file the claim after 24 hours of the accident.

However, this is not the case! Generally, the law requires a written notice of the accident injury within 30 days. But, many exceptions apply to this rule. You can seek help from the professional workplace injuries attorneys in NYC to know if you are entitled to workers’ compensation.

Failing To Provide A Detail Of Medical Records

The next big mistake is not telling the medical providers how you got injured at work. Not only it prevents you from getting the medical treatment you need, but it also harms your claim.

When a workplace injury attorney or an insurance company investigates the claim, they jot down the statements from the injured person and witnesses. They also inspect the medical records the employee reported to the doctor as injured. 

Moreover, they review the medical records to find the information, such as how or where the injury occurred. Therefore, it’s essential to talk to the doctor and describe everything related to your injury.

Not Complying With The Medical Treatment

If you are injured or out of work, it is quite important to comply with the doctor’s recommendations and attend all the medical appointments. Failing to do so may affect the benefits you deserve.

Generally, an insurance company or the employer requests the injured employee to attend all the medical appointments when he is receiving disability benefits. However, if the employee continues to miss the appointments, they will file an application to suspend the benefits.

 

Thus, letting the injury heal by attending all the medical appointments is in your best interest. It will keep the employer or his insurance agent from finding a reason to stop the benefits.

Not Knowing When To Return To Work

Sometimes, the employers provide light duty to the injured employees at the request of workers’ compensation. But what type of light work they are offering? Before you return to work, it is crucial to know what you will be doing for the employer.

Many times, injured employees are asked to do things without any regard to the employee’s restrictions. Other times, they are requested light-duty jobs but are forced to return to their regular work.

These hostile environments can cause problems in your settlement recovery. Thus, ask for a job description (JD), show it to your doctor, and say yes only if the doctor approves it. If the employer fails to provide JD or the insurance company denies providing benefits, call a workers’ injury attorney immediately.

Not Hiring An Attorney

After being injured at the job, you go through a complicated situation. The employer has a team of adjusters, attorneys, investigators, etc. who are working against you. They seek to pay as little as possible and get you back to work as soon as possible.

They don’t bother whether the job is suitable for you, or you will be able to do the work. They don’t care if your return to work will forfeit the benefits or decline your claim’s value.

Considering the complexities and legalities of the injury accident claim, hiring an attorney is of utmost importance. They are experts who know how to handle the case legally. By hiring an attorney, you have someone by your side who is working to provide you with the best possible compensation.