How To Make Sure Your Work Injury Claim Is As Strong As Possible

Accidents in the workplace are common, and they affect people in different ways. When you suffer a work-related injury, you lose income, incur huge medical expenses, or even experience permanent disability. All employers are responsible for making the workplace safe, and this means that you will be entitled to get compensation when you are injured at work. 

You must know your legal rights when you are injured at work and understand the steps that you should take when you claim workers’ compensation benefits. Read on to learn the steps that you can take to make sure that your work injury claim is as strong as possible.

Report Accident

You should immediately report an injury at work to your supervisor and make sure that it is recorded in the accident log book. You need to explain everything that you remember about the incident so that a report is compiled. Never falsify information since this can backfire when the insurance company makes investigations. You can also call witnesses to testify to increase the credibility of your case when you file a compensation claim.  

Get Medical Treatment

You must get medical attention soon after the accident and tell them everything. The physician writes a report and takes some notes that help the insurance company to review your case. You should never withhold any information, even if you do not feel any pain. Some injuries may manifest later, and these may jeopardize your case if the details are missing from your physician’s report. However, you must not exaggerate the information that you provide to the doctor. The other important thing that you must do is to follow your physical therapist’s instructions. Failure to do so can compromise your claim since the insurance company can dispute it. 

Be Ready For Independent Medical Examinations

The insurance company can hire a doctor to perform an independent medical examination (IME) to review your doctor’s report. If you are scheduled to attend an IME appointment, you must do so or risk losing your compensation benefits. An independent report determines the work restrictions as well as the benefits that you can get. 

Hire a Professional Lawyer

Dealing with insurance companies is usually a big challenge since they are in business. If you want to make your injury claim strong, then it is a good idea to enlist the services of a professional injury lawyer. Expert attorneys at https://www.fendonlaw.net/ explain that personal injury lawyers have specialized legal knowledge about workplace matters. They also have experience in dealing with similar issues, and they offer exceptional customer service to satisfy the needs of their clients. 

Document Everything

In any personal injury case, you must document any information that can help you support your case. Whether it is a slip or fall, make sure that you take photos of your injuries and the place where the incident occurred. At times it is difficult to remember everything when you are involved in an accident. If possible, you may also record a video using your phone and make sure that you keep the details in a safe place. It is difficult to dispute solid evidence like photos. 

When you take photos or record a video of the accident, you must be careful not to share this information with third parties. Additionally, you must not post anything related to your workplace injury on social media since this can affect your compensation claim. If the insurance company involved questions the authenticity of your account, they may also hire a private investigator to dig more details about your lifestyle. The other thing is that all the details you provide should not contradict your daily routine. If you claim that you are incapacitated, and private investigators from the insurance company observe something different, then your case can lose credibility.    

Appeal a Denial of Compensation Benefits

Insurance companies usually deny legitimate employees’ compensation claims since they seek to maximize their profits at all costs. However, you can appeal the insurance company’s denial if you feel that your rights have been violated. This will help you get fair benefits as long as you have the supporting evidence.  

Workplace injuries affect the victims in many ways, and these people are eligible to get compensation and other related benefits. However, insurance companies are in business, and they may not be willing to pay injured employees the compensation they deserve. To avoid such a scenario, it is imperative to report the accident, seek medication as well as to hire an injury attorney. It is vital to document everything and gather evidence that can help you support your claim. More importantly, you must prioritize your health and follow your doctor’s instructions to recover quickly from your injuries.