Contact legal counsel as quickly as possible after you experience an injury at your workplace. Do not postpone your call or let money hold you back from getting the professional help of a legal injury lawyer. You can receive free legal assistance as you seek compensation for any injuries and or lost work. Follow these four steps if you are injured at work:
Immediately Seek First Aid and Other Medical Treatment in the Case of an Emergency
Do not avoid emergency treatment because of financial fears. The healthcare provider that you receive help from must be authorized by the Workers’ Compensation Board unless it is an emergency. All necessary medical services will be paid for by your employer or their insurance carrier, as long as they do not dispute your case. This is where the professional help of an attorney, such as Blomberg Benson & Garrett, would be very helpful. Disputed workers’ compensation cases can hold up medical care compensation for months. The professional help of a lawyer will ensure that you receive immediate care while your lawyer fights for the full compensation that is due to you.
Notify Your Employer or Supervisor
Notify your supervisor about any injury that you experience as soon as possible. Explain in detail how, where and when you were injured. If you fail to report an injury within 30 days of the accident, you could lose the right to your workers’ compensation benefits. An occupational disease is different and must be reported within two years of your knowledge that you are experiencing a work related disablement.
Visit the Workers’ Compensation Board website in your state. For example, the state of California’s Department of Industrial Relations at CA.Gov is a resource for California workers that shares rights and privileges for injured workers in California. This will list your rights, but employers can dispute any claim along with accompanied requests for medical and financial compensation. This is why the assistance a work injury lawyer is so important. You have a right to the privileges that have been set up by the Workers’ Compensation Board in your state. You may also have a right to additional compensation that your lawyer can assist you in receiving.
Be Aware That Compensation Insurance Payments are Low
Being injured at work can seem like a simple process. After all, there are labor boards in each state to ensure that workers are properly cared for, and compensation insurance will provide money and benefits to injured workers. While compensation is available through temporary disability and even permanent disability payments, the payments are very low. You may not realize that these compensations cannot sufficiently compensate you or other workers for things like pain and suffering. Although it is a general rule that your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance will cover your injuries and compensate you for any loss to work, there are many exceptions. There are other compensations that you may be entitled to, as well.
Complete a Claim for Workers’ Compensation
Complete and mail a claim into the nearest Workers’ Compensation Board in your area. Getting the help of a lawyer as you fill out this form would be advised. The lawyer won’t give you answers as to how to fill out a form in order to receive the most compensation, but they can answer any questions that you have or point you towards any help that you may need in filling out this and all other legal paperwork.
After you have completed these very important four steps, take into consideration the advice that you receive from a lawyer, follow your doctor’s instructions, attend an independent medical examination, return to work when you are able and attend all hearings pertaining to the case when you are notified to appear.
Author information: Kare Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max. You can find Kara on Facebook and Twitter.
