It’s great to have an employer who cares about you enough to offer workers’ compensation insurance, but having this type of coverage is no guarantee that you’ll be taken care of should you ever become injured on the clock and need medical attention. Either your employer or the insurance company may do everything possible to cut their financial losses at your expense. Know what can be done on your end to increase your chances of your claim being accepted.
Be Quick and Accurate
The moment you realize that you’ve been injured on the job, no matter the statute of limitations in your state, you need to let your employer know as quickly as possible and get the compensation process started. As you’re working your way through the paperwork, take your time and be as accurate as you can be for each question. If at any time you feel overwhelmed answering questions and filling out forms, consider consulting a Worker’s Compensation Attorney.
See If There Were Any Witnesses
Maybe you weren’t alone when you injured yourself. If you weren’t, be sure to track down witnesses to get their names and accounts of what happened, asking them to be as specific and accurate as possible as well. Depending on how things turn out, having witnesses could be instrumental in proving that your injury was sustained at work and not on your personal time.
Get Medical Treatment
Go ahead and get medical treatment, even if you feel your injury doesn’t warrant it. One tactic often used by insurance companies is denying a claim and saying that an employee must not have been in much pain if she or he didn’t go to the hospital. A doctor’s report is vital in both proving and building your case, and you need to know just how extensive your injury is currently as well as whether it will improve or worsen in the future. Additionally, make sure the doctor knows that you were hurt at work and are seeking workers’ comp.
Remain Consistent From Start to Finish
You’ll likely have to fill out a lot of paperwork, maybe even talk to insurance agents. Throughout it all, be sure that all your statements are consistent no matter whom you’re talking to. This is vital because an insurance company won’t hesitate to deny your claim if your accounts or information don’t match up.
Read Over and Understand Medical Authorization Requests
Your employer’s insurance agency may ask you to sign a medical authorization release, which gives them the legal right to gather all the medical bills and documents related to your case. While this seems innocent enough, you’ve got to look over the release to ensure the dates line up with the date(s) of your injury.
Keep Up With Your Medical Treatment
To speed up your recovery and better ensure that your claim is accepted, you need to keep up with your medical appointments, therapy, at-home care and the like. Being neglectful in your treatment could send the unintentional message that your injuries aren’t that bad and that you don’t need compensation.
The workers’ compensation process can take longer than you may like, but you’ve got to remain diligent. Do everything you can to make it plain to your employer and the insurance company that your case and situation are worth consideration.
