In a matter of seconds, you can suffer a workplace injury that knocks you out of work and leaves you needing extensive medical care. This can generate a lot of stress and uncertainty, leaving you worried about the future. After all, if you can’t earn income and cover your bills, you could wind up facing even more severe hardship than you anticipated. While the workers’ compensation system might provide you with the financial relief needed to offset your medical expense and lost wages, the process isn’t always as straightforward as it should be.
In fact, there are several mistakes that could be made along the way that jeopardize the viability of your claim. Therefore, as you head into your workers’ compensation case, you should be aware of the missteps that could pose a threat to your financial well-being. Let’s look at them so that you know what to watch out for moving forward.
Don’t make these mistakes in when pursuing workers’ compensation benefits
A single mistake when pursuing workers’ compensation benefits can prevent you from securing the financial resources you need. So, as you proceed with your claim, be sure to be on the lookout for the following pitfalls:
- Failing to notify your employer: When you’re injured on the job, you’re required to notify your employer within a certain period of time. If you don’t, then you might be precluded from seeking the benefits you need. So, educate yourself on what that notice needs to look like so that you can make sure you adhere to applicable timelines.
- Delaying in seeking treatment: When you’re injured on the job, you need to seek immediate care. If you don’t, then your employer’s insurance company will have a lot of room to argue that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim them to be and that they shouldn’t prevent you from working. This can destroy your workers’ compensation claim.
- Failing to follow your doctor’s recommendations: Even if you seek immediate treatment, you should be prepared for your doctor to recommend ongoing follow up care. Again, if you fail to adhere to these recommendations, then your employer and their insurance company will likely argue that you lack the medical evidence necessary to demonstrate the severity of your condition and how it prevents you from working. In other words, if you don’t think your injuries are severe enough to treat according to doctor recommendations, then they probably aren’t severe enough to pay for.
- Exaggerating your injuries: If you lie or misconstrue your injuries, the insurance company will likely find out, especially if they ask for an independent medical examination. This will torpedo your claim, even if you have legitimate injuries for which you should receive compensation. And don’t expect to get away with any exaggerations. The insurance company is bound to find out the truth one way or another.
- Giving a recorded statement to the insurance company: The insurance company might try to get you to give a written statement about your workplace accident, your injuries or both. Their goal here is to lock you into statements that go against your goals. If you say something that’s easily misconstrued, then your workers’ compensation case could be toast.
Protect your interests throughout the workers’ compensation claim process
There’s a lot that can go wrong when seeking workers’ compensation benefits. But with a little work and education on your part, you can protect your interests more fully. If that’s something you’re interested in learning more about, then now is the time to discuss the unique circumstances of your case, that way you can rest easy knowing that you’ve done everything possible to secure the outcome you want.