Workplace accidents can be devastating since they often lead to serious injuries, loss of income, and continuous pain and suffering. However, if you are injured at work, you have a legal right to claim the workers’ compensation benefits you are owed as every employer is required to provide workers’ compensation insurance to protect their employees. Securing the benefits that you deserve is not always easy, though, especially if the accident took place on company premises.
Moreover, insurance companies are known to be more concerned about maximizing their profits than giving out settlements. With that said, it is important to know the different steps that you should take to ensure that you get a fair settlement for your injury. Read on to learn more about what you should do if you are injured on the job.
Report Your Injury
After sustaining an injury at your workplace, the first thing you need to do is to notify your supervisor. If you cannot do that on the same day, make sure to give the notice of injury to your employer within 30 days of the incident to avoid forfeiting your legal right to get the workers’ compensation benefits. You should also complete the necessary paperwork that will be used to process your worker’s compensation claim. Your employer must provide you with a workers’ compensation claim form that you should fill and return for processing.
Seek Medical Treatment
You should also seek immediate medical treatment after getting injured at work. You can visit doctors that are listed by your employer or choose an independent healthcare provider. If you choose another doctor, you must notify your employer about your decision. Your doctor will then evaluate your injuries and write a medical report that will be used to determine your compensation. It is crucial to follow your doctor’s instructions so that you can get the compensation that you deserve. Your doctor will perform the following activities:
Certify your work-related injuries
Help you in filing a workers’ compensation claim
Determine when you can return to work
Recommend further treatment
The insurance company will evaluate all the medical records to determine the settlement that you can get. If you do not follow the doctor’s orders, your claim can be rejected.
Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer
While employees rarely sue their employers when they are injured at work, you may still need legal advice to fully understand how the workers’ compensation system works. Getting the maximum settlement that you deserve is not very easy and this is why you need to work with a lawyer. The experts behind this website say that workers’ compensation claims can be especially complicated in certain states like Georgia, so it will serve you well to find a workers’ compensation lawyer who is committed to helping their clients recover full benefits from their employers. Experienced lawyers know how to negotiate with insurance companies to help the victims get the compensation they deserve.
Document Everything
You must document everything that you remember about your work-related injury. It is essential to take pictures of the area where you were injured and make detailed notes about what transpired during the accident. You should also include the date and all the people who may have witnessed the accident. Your employer may not be convinced that you were injured at work, so it is a good idea to keep this information to support your claim.
When you complete your worker’s compensation claim form, your employer will mail it to the local compensation office for processing. The workers’ compensation board and their insurance company will assess and determine the benefits that you will receive. When you are presented with a settlement offer, you should review it with your attorney to see if it suits your injury. If you are satisfied, then you can accept the offer. But if not, you can reject it and appeal for a denial.
Appeal a Denial
When your initial claim is denied, it does not mean that your case is closed. You can appeal the decision and request a hearing with the administrative law judge. You will then need a lawyer to prepare a solid case and represent you during the hearing. You must also ensure that you have the evidence that can help you win your case by collecting all the documents that you gathered including your medical records. With the help of your lawyer, you can now negotiate for a better settlement.
If you were injured at work, remember that you are entitled to certain benefits as mandated by the workers’ compensation system; each employer is required to provide workers’ compensation insurance to protect their employees against any work-related injuries. However, there are specific steps that you should follow if you are hurt on the job to claim that compensation. The most important thing to do, if such a scenario happens, is to report the injury to your supervisor. You should also seek immediate medical care for your injuries to increase your chances at a successful recovery, document your injuries, and prove your claim.
