Many people jeopardize their workers compensation because of their ignorance. They do not understand that what they do after an injury occurs can affect the possible amount of money they can get for the injury. If you are someone sensible, you need to be prepared at all times about what you need to do because you cannot predict if you will ever get injured since the possibility is not low.
Not having a good lawyer
You have to understand that you need to have a lawyer at all times. It would be great if you had a specialist for every field. In this case, you would need good workers compensation lawyers who would be best equipped to deal with everything in the case. As soon as you get injured and seek medical attention, you will need to call your lawyer so that he or she can advise you on what to do. They will most likely advise you to document as much as you can and to not talk with anyone about what exactly happened. Look at them as a shield for your compensation claim. Of course, you will need to wait for them to come so that they can talk with the people in charge about what happened and what is going to happen. They will be in charge if negotiations are in order and if your case comes to court. You must trust your lawyer completely; listen to every step they ask you to take, and you have done all that is in your power. Now, you let them do their thing.
Admitting fault
What some people do after they are injured in the workplace is that they admit fully, or partly that the accident happened because of them. You should not do this in any circumstance. You do not want to jeopardize your compensation claim, and by admitting fault, you may completely give away your right. What we suggest is that you do not talk about what happened to anyone and wait for your lawyer to come. Everybody that is there on the scene can testify to what you are saying, so be careful. Also, you need to keep in mind that even if you think that the accident is truly your fault, that may not be the case fully. After you have looked at the evidence with your lawyer, you will have a better understanding of what happened. And if you still think that you are at fault, then you can just leave the case and continue your work.
Walking it off
Another very bad move from someone who was involved in an accident is that he or she walks away after getting injured in the workplace. This is not good because much evidence could be lost until you figure out what you should have done. If you get injured or hit with something on your job, even if you feel fine, you should go to a doctor and check just in case. Before you go to the hospital, you should try and document as much as you can of what has happened. Take photos of the things that you think caused the injury, or you could ask a coworker to do that for you if you are incapable. After you have gone to the hospital and you have found that everything is alright with you, then you can carry on, but if you are injured, then you have evidence to present for your case.
Deciding not to sue
Some people truly love their work, and the people they are working for, so if they were ever to be involved in an accident, they would hesitate to call their lawyer in order not to tarnish their relationship. Even though it is great that you think that way, we would still suggest that you talk with a lawyer about everything and then react. When it comes to money, some bosses can quickly turn and become very unreasonable. You should be a professional, protect your rights, and do what you think is best for you and your family. You need to explore your rights, and then you need to confront your boss with the truth. If your relationship is really good, then he or she won’t have too many problems giving you what you are entitled to outside a courtroom.
Inadequate documentation
You need to understand that without proper documentation you won’t be able to get the most out of your workers compensation claim. After the injury, you should immediately go to a hospital and have them document what has happened to you. You will need these documents in the negotiation process and if your case ever ends up in court. Many lawyers would do this for you; they would gather the necessary documentation for you and you do not need to worry about it.
Do not come back too soon!
What some people do after they have filed for compensation is that they come back to work sooner than they should. You cannot do this. You need to stay at home for the specified time or you may lose on your workers compensation claim. Also, you do not want to worsen your injury by coming to work. Relax at home, do a hobby, and return once you feel well and it is time to do so.
Not keeping records
One very smart thing you should do is keep records of all the treatments you have done over the period after the injury. This is important because it will be easier for the court to determine how much you are entitled to. If you do not do this, you will most likely get less money, and you could possibly get into financial problems because of all the fees that you are paying out of pocket.
There are many things that you need to do if you want to protect your claim and get what you deserve. You need to pay attention to details and know what to do and what to avoid when the time comes to act.
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