Don’t Get Hurt Twice: Tips To Get The Most From Your Workman’s Compensation Claim

Getting hurt on the job is painful and inconvenient. It often requires taking time off work, hospital stays, trips to doctors scattered all over the city, and frequent physical therapy.

To keep you from being hurt twice by painful medical bills and financial struggles, here are some suggestions to protect yourself.

Get medical attention immediately

This is no time to tough it out. If you have been injured on the job, or while doing something for the company off-site, get the necessary medical attention immediately. Your health is of the utmost importance.

Report your injury immediately

When it comes to employment injuries, it didn’t happen if it wasn’t reported. Every state requires you to inform your employer of injuries, so don’t wait to file the necessary reports.

Keep in mind that there are deadlines, and if you miss the deadline you can lose your benefits. This is no time to be tough or silent, so report your injury immediately.

Keep records

As you work your way through the process, make sure you keep records of appointments, medical records, receipts, work restrictions, letters from your employer, letters from the insurance company, dates and times of calls and appointments, etc. If it is connected to your claim, make sure you keep it.

File your workman’s compensation claim quickly

Telling your employer and filing your workman’s comp claim are two separate things. As with reporting, there are deadlines, and if you miss your filing deadline, you run the risk of losing your chance at your claim.

Big brother is watching

If your employer or your insurance company has any doubts about your claim, they may hire private investigators to watch you, follow you, and document your activities. It doesn’t always happen, but it’s safe to assume that you will be watched.

You’ll want to be cautious with your social media posts, too. Be careful of what you post on Facebook and Instagram, especially when you make comments about your injury.

Ultimately, the best advice is to just be smart. If you do get caught lifting something and you shouldn’t be lifting anything, make sure they know the boxes were lighter than your weight limit, or that you made a mistake and paid painfully and dearly for it later that day.

Change doctors if you need to

Different states have different rules about which doctor the insurance company sends you to. Some require you to stay with that doctor for a limited time, while others require all follow-up appointments be with that doctor.

That said, the doctor is paid by the insurance company, so there is a potential conflict of interest. If you feel the doctor is minimizing your injuries and complaints, change doctors. If you do change doctors, be sure to inform the workman’s comp company before you start with the new doctor.

Be consistent and precise

Always make sure you tell the same story, and never change it. The insurance company is looking for reasons to not pay or reduce the payout, so any inconsistencies can give them that excuse.

When detailing what happened, give times, dates, exactly what you were doing.

For example, your report could state, “On December 8, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. I was using a snow shovel to clear the sidewalk in front of our main office door. As I lifted a shovel full of snow to dump the snow on the grass, I felt a sharp pain in my right shoulder. I’ve never had any problems with it before this. Since then the pain has continued. I’ve also lost mobility in that arm.”

Tell the same story all the time. Doctors look for pre-existing conditions to disqualify you, but that doesn’t have to ruin your chances. If you do have a pre-existing condition, inform the doctors and don’t hide it.

Be ready for an IME

Your employer’s insurance company can ask for an Independent Medical Examination (IME) to see if you’re ready to go back to work. Skipping one can terminate your insurance benefits, so you don’t want to miss this.

Some states limit the number of IMEs the insurance company can require, so if you feel that you’re being taken advantage of, it’s a good idea to discuss your case with a knowledgable attorney.

Protect yourself

Your workman’s compensation claim may be simple and easy without problems. However, if the insurance company is denying your claims, offers a quick settlement, or is threatening to reduce your benefits, you should consider hiring an attorney that specializes in worker’s compensation claims.

Start with a simple Google search for “personal injury attorney near me” to discover local attorneys that are conveniently located near your home or place of work. From there, narrow the list down to attorneys that specialize in worker’s compensation claims. Schedule complimentary consultations with a few of your favorites, then choose the attorney that you feel the most comfortable with and confident in.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.