After you have been injured on the job, you will likely file for workers’ comp in an effort to gain the financial compensation you will need to support yourself and your family while your injuries heal. Unfortunately, many injured workers make mistakes early on in the process that results in their claims being denied. To avoid this situation, here are some can’t-miss steps you should always take when filing for workers’ comp.
Notify Your Employer Immediately
Even if you have up to 30 days to inform your employer you were injured on the job, don’t assume delaying won’t impact your case. Actually, delaying notifying your employer of your injuries only makes it easier for your claim to be denied. Instead, report your injuries to your immediate supervisor or other person in charge immediately upon being injured. By doing so, this prevents your employer from claiming you were injured somewhere else other than at work.
Hire a Workers’ Comp Attorney
Within days after your workplace injury, hire a work site accident attorney who specializes in handling workers’ comp cases. This can be critical, since your attorney can give you advice on how to proceed, speak to your employer and those who may have witnessed your accident, and begin building a case that will result in your claim being approved the first time.
Get Medical Treatment
After notifying your employer of your injuries so that an accident report will be filed, always seek out medical treatment both at the scene of your accident and also at a hospital or doctor’s office. Not only will this ensure your injuries are treated quickly so that they do not worsen, but it will also get your injuries documented into your medical records right away. Once this is done, your employer’s insurance company will have a harder time disputing the severity of your injuries.
Gather Evidence
Although your attorney will gather plenty of evidence related to your workplace accident, you should always begin the process immediately after being hurt on the job. This can include gathering names and contact information of others who witnessed your accident, taking photos of your injuries and the accident scene if possible, and other aspects you feel may be important to your case.
Though many employers will fight hard against workers’ comp claims, this does not mean you cannot get the compensation you deserve after being hurt on the job. By hiring an experienced workers’ comp attorney and reporting your accident as soon as possible, you set the stage for a successful workers’ comp claim.
Author information: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.
