What to Do After Being Hurt on the Job

 

Slips, falls, and countless other incidents can happen no matter what your job title is, which is why most companies are required to have workers’ compensation insurance. But even though the simplest work accidents can rack up expensive bills, your employer’s insurance company may deny or minimize your claim if you don’t adhere to these specific guidelines.

Get Medical Help

Of course, if you were the victim of an emergency accident on the job, you must seek immediate medical attention. However, if you fail to follow your doctor’s instructions, your employer’s insurance company may accuse you of neglecting your injury to try and earn more compensation. Follow these guidelines when treating your injury to preemptively handle certain attempts to deny or undervalue your claim.

• Ask your doctor which job activities are permitted
• Follow your prescription dosage(s)
• Attend all follow-up appointments
• Visit physical therapy sessions (if necessary)

Report to Your Employer

If you were involved in an accident on the job but did not require emergency medical attention, you should reach out to your employer before seeking medical help. Your employer may assign an affiliated doctor to perform the examination, and waiting to have this evaluation done can put your case at risk. If you don’t report to your employer as soon as possible, their insurance company may argue that you avoided proper physical assessment or reported an injury that’s unrelated to work.

File Your Claim Quickly

Most states require companies to purchase workers’ compensation insurance to protect any injuries that you may sustain at work. However, you only have 30 days to report an accident to your employer. You should file your report as soon as possible and explain details such as:

• Your personal information (name, address, etc.)
• The time and location of the incident
• Witnesses to the incident
• The cause of the incident

Keep Every Record

One of the best ways to protect your workers’ compensation claim is to keep every document related to your case. When you report the work-related incident to your employer, be sure to make a copy of your claim and document all conversation details to make sure that your case has as much supporting evidence as possible. You must also store records of each medical appointment, the feedback given, and any test results to prove that you adequately followed your prescribed treatment plan. These documents also reflect the fees that you incurred because of the accident, which strengthens your claim for compensation.

Accidents happen, and you deserve to have coverage when they do. The seasoned team of attorneys at Lanzotti & Rau can determine if your injury is covered by workers’ compensation and guide you through every step of the claim process. We’ve represented countless work-related cases across Missouri, and we can advocate for yours too. If you’ve been hurt on the job, call us today to schedule a free consultation at 573-335-9300.