Being injured at work is no joke. It can leave you with medical bills that are more expensive than your insurance policy is willing to cover, and the time that you spend out of work can leave you without the income that you expect and need. To try to quickly offset these losses, you might want to turn to workers’ compensation benefits for relief. While this process may certainly prove beneficial for you, you have to navigate the process with care. If you don’t, you might end up seeing your claim denied.
Mistakes to avoid in your workers’ compensation case
As you work your way through the workers’ compensation process, it’s wise to be cognizant of some of the common mistakes that people make when pursuing these benefits. If you educate yourself, you can work to avoid slipping up and having your claim denied due to preventable error. With that in mind, let’s look at some of those common mistakes here:
- Improperly documenting the accident: Your employer and its insurance company might be able to dodge your workers’ compensation claim if they can show that it was caused by your own actions. Therefore, you need to be prepared to specify how you suffered from your accident injuries and how the events leading up to them were work related. By immediately documenting it, you can ensure that you will recall the details of the incident better when you need to.
- Not reporting the incident to your employer: Before you can pursue a workers’ compensation claim, you have to report your accident injuries to your employer. You have to do this within a certain period of time, too, otherwise you may be prevented from seeking the benefits that you need. So, make sure that you’re timely in reporting the incident to your employer.
- Not following your doctor’s recommendations: You should seek immediate medical care after you suffer a workplace injury, but you also need to ensure that you follow your doctor’s recommendations for subsequent care. If you don’t, your employer’s insurance company might try to argue that your injuries aren’t as severe as you’re trying to make them out to be.
- Not complying with requests: You’re going to be asked to do a lot during the workers’ compensation process. This might include seeking out an independent medical evaluation. If you don’t comply with these requests, your claim might be denied. Therefore, you’re better off knowing your rights when addressing these requests and acting appropriately.
- Misconstruing the facts: You want to be open and honest during the workers’ compensation process. If you’re found to have falsified information or exaggerated your injuries, your claim will be jeopardized, and you may be left without the benefits that you need.
There are other mistakes that people often make throughout this process, including trying to navigate it on their own without legal assistance. If you want to protect your interests, make sure that you’re cognizant of these common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Do you need a legal advocate on your side?
Workers’ compensation benefits might be your financial lifeline as you focus on recovering from your injuries and getting back to work. But the process isn’t automatic. Instead, you’ll have to be prepared to identify the weaknesses in your case and work to minimize or eliminate their impact. An attorney who is well versed in this area of the law may be able to assist you, which is why it might be in your best interest to discuss your case with a legal team that you trust.
