Workers that suffer an injury while they are at their jobs will often commit a number of oversights that can limit their ability to seek compensation for the costs of treating their injuries. Being aware of some of the more serious and common mistakes can prove useful in protecting your rights as an injured employee.
Failing To Report The Injury To Management
The most common mistake that individuals make will be to fail to report their accident to management. Often, this mistake is made due to concerns about getting in trouble for the accident that leads to their injuries. However, this can be a critical mistake as it may prevent you from being able to start the process of filing a workers' compensation claim. Also, significant delays between the occurrence of the injury and it being reported can increase the chances that the insurance company will deny the claim.
Not Seeking Medical Treatment As Soon As Possible
Seeking prompt medical treatment after the injury can be another important step for filing one of these claims. This will help to establish medical records pertaining to the injury, which can be used to prove its occurrence. When seeking treatment, your doctor should be notified that your injury is work related as this will be noted in the records. The records from this first treatment session may need to be sent to the workers' compensation provider. For this reason, it can be worthwhile to ask the medical provider for the steps for requesting copies of these records during your initial treatment.
Lack Of Legal Representation
When issues arise with the process of filing a workers' compensation claim, legal representation should be retained as soon as possible. Some business owners or insurance providers will resist or otherwise act against the employee that is filing a workers' compensation claim. This can include denying the claim, retaliating against the employee for filing the claim or failing to provide sufficient treatment for recovery. A workers' compensation attorney will be able to review the facts of your case so that they can advise you about your options for receiving the compensation that you are entitled under this coverage.
Overlooking The Option Of Appealing
Individuals that have their workers' compensation claims denied will frequently fail to appreciate the option of filing an appeal with the state workers' compensation board. This is a complicated process, and you may only have one chance to be successful. Professional guidance and representation will help to make the appeal process less confusing while increasing your chances of success.
For more information, reach out to attorneys like Duluth Injury Lawyers.
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