After suffering an injury on the job, you have to take specific steps to make sure that worker’s compensation will cover your injury. When you fail to follow the proper procedure, your claim will be denied. Here are the steps that you should take after suffering an injury at work:
Report Your Injury
Just because your employer uses employee tracking software such as Clockspot does not mean that you should not report your injury. You need to report your injury to your boss as soon as it happens. Although you have a window of ten days to report it, it would be better if you did it right away.
After your employer receives a notification that you must miss three days of work, he or she must submit a report to the WCC (Workers’ Compensation Commission). This report will kick of the statute of limitations for you to submit your compensation claim.
Receive Medical Treatment
It is important that you seek medical treatment for your injury right away. The WCC has a fee schedule that describes how much you should pay physicians for medical services. If your doctor does not want to accept the fee schedule’s payment, you should look for a different one or pay your fees privately. A quick online search should help you to find workers compensation services in your area.
Your employer can ask you to see a doctor of his choosing to determine whether the treatment you received was sensible. However, you do not have to receive treatment from your employer’s doctor. When you see a doctor, you should let him know that your injury happened at work then describe your symptoms as well as what caused the injury.
Visiting a doctor is the first step toward a successful recovery. Your doctor should determine whether your injury affects your ability to keep working then notify your employer of your limitations.
Keep Track of Missed Work and Expenses
Depending on the seriousness of the injury that you suffered, you might qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. However, in most cases, the partial lost wages and medical expenses will be covered. For this reason, you should keep track of the work time that you miss as well as the expenses that you incur because of your injury.
Make sure that you file all the receipts for lab tests, doctor’s visit, medical equipment, surgeries, and medication
Hire a Lawyer
Hiring a lawyer will help you in many different ways. Your attorney will help you to fight for your rights and gather any evidence that will prove your claim. Whether you are looking at lawyer directories or websites such as Holtz Law, make sure that you find a competent lawyer.
Find a competent worker’s compensation lawyer who is familiar with the process of applying for benefits and handling workers’ claims. Your insurer or employer might deny your legitimate claim, which means that a lawyer’s services are invaluable at this stage. Moreover, your employer might try to convince you to go back to work before you recover fully – a lawyer will protect your rights.
Follow the Treatment Plans
If you want to receive the workers’ compensation benefits, you should follow the course of treatment that your physician recommends. Are you unsatisfied with the level of care that your doctor is providing? You can always consult a different doctor to get a second opinion.
If you fail to follow the recommended treatment plan, it will make your lawyer’s job very hard when he tries to defend you.
Conclusion
If you are injured on the job, you should follow the above steps. Make sure that you listen to your doctor and lawyer if you want to receive the maximum possible compensation.
