Have you been injured at work? If so, you could be eligible for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is a payment made to the victims of workplace accidents to help them pay medical expenses and live with their injuries.
The process of obtaining workers’ compensation can be drawn out and complicated, however. The average person has no idea what it entails or what they are supposed to do. Don’t worry, though. This post will explore this topic in more detail and tell you everything you need to know about obtaining workers’ compensation.
Report the Injury
In the aftermath of an accident, always report it to your employer. This is so you can take time off of work, and make your claim. When you notify your manager, provide a detailed explanation of how the accident happened. Include the names of witnesses in your description of the accident, so your employer can get in touch with them and ask for their version of what happened.
If it is company policy to, request an incident report. An incident report will give you somewhere to detail the accident. Make sure you are honest and do not embellish or exaggerate elements of your accident, or you could get into a lot of trouble.
Contact an Attorney
To make a claim for workers’ compensation, you will need an attorney’s support. According to this workers compensation lawyer out of Fresno, an attorney can help to maximize your compensation payout. It is therefore very important to shop around and find the best legal representative that you can.
One of the most effective ways to determine a lawyer’s level of experience and commitment to their craft is to take a read through their reviews. A lawyer’s reviews will tell you a lot about them and give you a good idea about what they are like to work with on a personal basis, so make sure you find a lawyer with positive client feedback.
Seek Medical Help
The next step in making a claim for compensation is to seek medical help. Of course, if your injuries are severe, seeking medical support should be the first thing you do. You can only delay it if you think your injuries are treatable at home.
It is worth noting, if you make a claim for workers’ compensation, you are going to need medical evidence. Sometimes it is better to seek medical help immediately after your accident, so you can get a written record of the time and date it happened, and the severity of the injuries sustained.
Document Everything
Evidence is going to be needed in order for a workers’ compensation payment to be processed. A lot of people do not realize the importance of evidence, which leads to them missing opportunities to document their injuries. At the scene of the accident, if you can, take photographs and videos.
There is no guarantee your employer will supply CCTV, even if there is some. Some people’s employers can be very difficult. As well as documenting how the accident happened and obtaining evidence, you also need to keep a record of the witnesses who saw the accident. Speak to witnesses before you give their names over, especially if you are suing your boss, not pursuing workers’ compensation. Supplying their contact information without their permission could get them into trouble at work.
Follow Procedure
Follow company procedure as it relates to making a workers’ compensation claim. You need to file your claim within the specified timeframe and submit all forms to your employer. Your lawyer can handle all of the complicated aspects of your claim for you, so if you hire one, there isn’t really much you personally have to do.
If you do not follow the procedure, your claim could be rejected or delayed. A lot of people make the mistake of skipping important aspects of procedural policy, which results in their claims being dismissed or them being ordered to go back and redo their applications. It is better to hire a lawyer to do the hard work for you. Find the best lawyer you can, so you don’t have to worry about mistakes being made.
Obtain Medical Evidence
Medical evidence is, as stated above, a requirement. You won’t be able to make a claim for compensation if you do not have evidence to support it. A lot of people overlook the evidence requirements for workers’ compensation claims and as a result have their claims dismissed.
If you want to know specifically what medical evidence you need, get in touch with your lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to explain the necessary forms of evidence required to you and help you to find the right type for you.
Provide Receipts
Receipts are essential if you want to make a claim for workers’ compensation, as without them, you are never going to be able to prove you have paid the amount you have for medical expenses. Providing receipts is relatively straightforward. All you have to do is send them to your lawyer via email or mail.
To get receipts, simply request them from the companies you have sought medical care from. They should be able to provide medical receipts that explain what kind of treatment you had, how much you paid, and how much they need.
Don’t Exaggerate
Exaggerating or embellishing elements of your claim can get you into a lot of trouble and is actually considered fraud. A lot of people talk up their injuries, mainly because they want to qualify for the highest amount of compensation. If you exaggerate your injuries, not only could your claim be dismissed, but you could actually end up getting arrested.
No lawyer is going to represent a client whose claim is exaggerated. Remember your attorney will look into the details of your accident to try and find supporting evidence, so if they determine you are exaggerating in any way, they are guaranteed to reject your claim and report you.
Workers’ compensation law can be very confusing. It isn’t something the average person knows enough about to be able to represent themselves or make their own claim. If you are interested in making a workers’ compensation claim, use the guidance given above to maximize your payout.