Mistakes to avoid to protect your work injury claim

Getting injured on the job can be an unpleasant, frustrating, and stressful experience for any worker. It’s easy to despair at the thought of not being able to work for a long time after a severe injury. After all, you may have a family to support and bills to pay. Not only that, but you’ll also have to find a way to deal with the medical expenses caused by the injury. However, if you obtain workers’ compensation benefits, most of these issues will be resolved, and you should be able to focus on your recovery.

Nonetheless, receiving workers’ compensation benefits is much easier said than done. In theory, it seems like a simple system that will give you the money you need to deal with the consequences of your injury. But in practice, it’s an entirely different story. If you make a serious mistake after your injury, you may not get the compensation you need to regain control of your life.

Here are seven common mistakes you should avoid during your workers’ compensation claim.

1# Failing to report your accident (or illness)

Workers who suffer a work injury are required to report the accident as soon as reasonably possible. This helps an employer adjust its safety practices and helps workers get the medical treatment they need. However, some workers do not report their injuries after they occur.

You may believe that your injuries are not severe enough to warrant compensation, or you may simply forget to file a claim. In either case, not reporting the incident can have serious consequences down the road.

2# Not seeking medical care

Another common mistake many workers make after an injury is not seeking the medical attention they need right after it occurs. Failure to do so can hurt your chances of receiving any type of compensation since you would be indicating that your injuries were not at all severe and that they don’t require a great deal of compensation.

On the other hand, you should also be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter once you have received your diagnosis. Again, failure to do so will seriously impact your chances of obtaining compensation.

3# Not filing a claim because you fear the consequences

A common misconception among many workers is that filing a workers’ compensation claim could have negative implications for their employment. However, this is entirely false. Your employer will not be able to retaliate in any way against you if you decide to file a claim after a work injury, mainly because it is illegal.

If you have not filed your workers’ compensation claim because you are afraid of the consequences it could have, fear not. Getting a fair monetary settlement after getting injured on the job is your right.

4# Returning to work too soon

Returning to work too soon after a work-related injury can be a colossal mistake. Unfortunately, many workers often make this error, severely damaging their chances of obtaining compensation as a result.

Before going back to work, you must achieve maximum medical recovery. Otherwise, you run the risk of re-injury and of receiving a smaller monetary settlement. Follow your doctor’s instructions and don’t rush back to work; take as much time as you need to fully recover.

5# Lying about the details of your work injury

One of the biggest mistakes an injured worker can make is lying about the details of his or her injury. It may seem like a good idea to exaggerate how the accident occurred and the extent of your injuries in order to receive a larger settlement, but doing so could cost you dearly down the road.

The insurance company will investigate your case carefully, and if they discover that you are deliberately lying about any critical details, rest assured that your claim will be denied. Not only that, you may even face criminal charges for insurance fraud.

6# Appealing a decision on your own

If the insurance company denied your claim, you might want to appeal the decision as soon as possible. However, you should be aware that doing so on your own may not be the best idea.

Most appeals that are made without the help of an experienced workers compensation attorney usually fail. Don’t make this common mistake; talk to an attorney near you to get the help you need.

7# Not hiring an experienced attorney

The last common mistake too many workers make is not working with an experienced attorney to get the compensation they need. Workers’ compensation law can be difficult to understand if you are unfamiliar with it, and the process can quickly become a headache. Because of this, you should seriously consider working with a Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney to get the results you are looking for.

Where can you find an experienced attorney near you?

The easiest way to find a legal professional near you, ready to help you with anything you need, is through a quick query on Google, Bing, or any other search engine.

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If you are an emerging lawyer, you may want to work with an attorney SEO agency to position your firm among the top results on Google. Doing so could be an excellent idea, don’t let anything stop you!

Mistakes to avoid to protect your work injury claim