If you have been injured in the workplace, you are entitled to workers compensation. But how much you are awarded will depend on a lot of factors, from the extent of your injury to how long it keeps you out of work. Here are five tips to help you get as much as possible when claiming workers comp.
1. See a doctor right away.
Do not delay seeing a doctor after you're injured at work. This might make it harder to receive compensation at all, since the insurance company may argue that you were not actually injured at your place of employment. Plus, you may be denied some compensation because the insurance company believes that if you would have sought treatment sooner, your injury would not be so bad.
2. Report the injury.
There needs to be a detailed paper trail regarding your injury in order to receive compensation. That paper trail should start with a record of the injury as reported to your supervisor at work. Your supervisor may refer you to human resources to fill out additional paperwork. The more detailed this report, the more evidence it will provide as to the severity of your injury and how it happened. These details may help you make a claim for increased compensation.
3. Get a second opinion.
Is your doctor telling you that your injury is healed, even though you still feel pain? Maybe your doctor has recommended a treatment you are not comfortable with. In either case, seek a second opinion. The other doctor may find that you are more injured than the initial doctor assumed, which would entitle you to additional compensation.
4. Save all of your receipts.
Most people know to save medical bills as evidence of the compensation they deserve. However, you may not realize you can request compensation for other medical expenses, like the pain relievers you purchase over-the-counter, too. Save all receipts that you think may even be remotely related to your injury. Your attorney can help you determine which ones to submit.
5. Work with an attorney.
Lastly, make sure you find a good workers comp attorney to work with you through the process of making a claim. If you work with a lawyer from the beginning, they can make sure your paperwork is filled out properly and you request enough compensation. If you wait until later to hire the help of a workers compensation attorney services company, they may not be able to do quite as much for you.
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