When you suffer injuries or illness while working, you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, some employees are unaware of the legal process and their won rights. It is very common for workers to make errors that can impact their claims negatively. Visit this page to hire a workplace injury attorney who will help you to prepare a proper claim for your injury.
Common mistakes people make when filing for workers’ compensation
There are some common mistakes that people should avoid when filing workers’ compensation.
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Failing to report the injury
The workers’ compensation benefits process depends on the employer receiving notice of a work-related injury that prevents the employee from earning wages for five or more calendar weeks. When the employer receives the notice, it will pass on the injury notice to its workers’ compensation insurer, and then the process of determining benefits will begin.
When you suffer a work-related injury, do not assume that your employer is not aware of it. Even if you think your employer knows about the injury, do not assume they will take proper action.
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Failure to seek medication
The main aim of workers’ compensation benefits is to compensate for medical and other bills and help them recover. If any worker fails to seek medical help, the employer or the insurance company will claim that there was no injury. Medical records are vital pieces of evidence in a claim.
Also, when you are injured, do not report your injury directly to your doctor first. Your doctor cannot report your injury to your employer to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Always report the incident to your employer first and then to your doctor.
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Not adhering to medical treatment.
You should follow your doctor’s treatment orders and attend every medical and therapy appointment. Suppose you cannot comply with the medical treatment or intentionally do not show up to the medical documents scheduled by the employer. In that case, your benefits can get suspended or stopped entirely.
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Signing documents without notifying your lawyer
Once you sign the settlement offer, the claim process gets over. If you are unhappy with the settlement afterward, you cannot revisit the claim. Most of the time, the insurance company’s initial offer is very low. Your lawyer can review every document, determine if the settlement is enough for you, and will tell you if it is best to sign them or not.
