Getting injured while performing your duties at your place of work can leave you wondering about your future. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might be left wondering how soon you can get back on your feet and how you will support your family in the meantime.
A worker’s compensation claim can help you out in such desperate times. You can get compensation for your losses, such as your injuries and lost wages. A compensation sum can make it possible for you to survive the worst of your situation and move forward with your life.
The following discussion will outline the things you have to look out for in order to make your compensation claim successful.
- Failing to Make a Formal Report
A formal report of your incident is necessary to get things moving in the right direction. In order to seek compensation for your injuries, you will need the incident to exist on paper. A paper trail can only begin to develop if your injuries are reported to your superiors properly.
By making a formal report, you will be able to bring your employer or the HR department into action. Your union representatives can also be engaged in the matter, which can lead to a speedy mediation of the process. However, if you fail to make a formal report, then there is not much anyone can do for you.
- Refusing Treatment or Checkup
Another common mistake that people make after getting injured on the job is that they try to walk it off. At the time of the incident, your body can pump adrenaline into your bloodstream, which can make the pain bearable; however, as the adrenaline starts to dissipate, you will feel the full effects of your injury.
Even if your injuries seem minor, there can be bruising or internal injuries that can start to hurt as time passes. If you are experiencing an internal bleed, your life can be put in danger because of it. This is why it is of the utmost importance that you get the treatment needed on the spot.
In addition to that, you should go for a complete checkup to make sure any underlying issues are uncovered. Doing this will ensure that all of your injuries are documented and made part of your medical report.
- Forgetting to Document Things
In the heat of the moment, it is possible that you will forget to document the scene. Taking pictures of the place where your accident occurred and making a video of the hazard that led to your injury is an important part of strengthening your compensation claim.
Similarly, the costs you incur in the form of medical treatment or trauma counseling need to be considered. Your medical bills and receipts for any other expenses need to be put away safely. You should also ensure that you keep a file maintained with details for all of your expenses.
- Not Talking to an Attorney
If you fail to consult an attorney after your work-related injury, you will be doing a disservice to yourself and your family. Talking to an attorney can bring clarity to your situation. There can be things that you will not be aware of, such as state-specific limitations.
Your attorney will be able to provide you with the information needed. Your priority should be to look for attorneys protecting injured workers’ rights. This way, you will be able to get specialist advice, and you will get the direction needed to file a successful compensation claim.
You will be able to figure out which expenses can be covered under your worker’s compensation claim and what documentation you will need to support your claim.
- Taking Things Lightly
After your workplace injury, the worst thing that you can do is to take things lightly. You do not have to prove a point that you are the toughest person alive. If you try to portray such an image, you will be stuck in a position where any claim you make later on will be denied on the basis that you were okay with it at the time of the incident.
When you take things lightly, you also tend not to follow the proper procedure. You can miss recommended treatments and doctor’s appointments. This can lead to a poor case report for you, and it can have a negative effect on your compensation claim later on.
- Settling the Matter Quickly
After your injury, your employer will prioritize settling the matter quickly and as cheaply as possible. It can be beneficial for your employer to get the matter done and dusted so that people can forget about the incident and the negligence on the part of your employer.
Similarly, the initial settlement offer that you will receive will be considerably lower than what it should be. It is entirely possible that you will not get enough compensation even to cover the costs of your medical expenses. This is why it can be crucial to wait things out.
You can get your attorneys to handle the negotiations on your behalf so that you can get the settlement you deserve. Your attorney will be able to use precedents and the evidence at hand to get a better settlement for you.
- Signing Releases Early On
A common mistake that people make after getting injured at their place of work is to sign release forms without consulting their attorneys. Such release forms are designed to release your employer from any liability for your injury.
Your employer may offer you a sum of money and some benefits in exchange for your signature on such a release form. However, if you consult your attorney, you will be able to get a fair sum of money for your injuries. Your attorney will be able to assess if the offer your employer is making is reasonable or not.
If you sign the release form without reading it properly or without consulting your attorney, you will be cutting off any hopes of getting fair compensation for your injuries.
