If you are hurt bad enough at work that you have to take time off to recover, you may assume that your workers' compensation benefits will automatically kick in. However, there are certain things that need to be done before that happens and to ensure that your employer does not try to deny your claim. During this process, the following mistakes could jeopardize your ability to receive your benefits.
1. Neglecting to Report the Injury When It Happens
When you are first injured in a workplace accident, you may be reluctant to tell anyone about your injury. You may believe that you will get in trouble with your boss, or you may try to brush off the injury because you really need to work.
However, if you neglect to report the injury when it first happens, your employer may state that you were not injured at work or did not cooperate with the company policies regarding accidents and injuries. And, since this initial injury report is one of the first documents you will need to file your claim, you want to have it to have proof of the accident, as well as any statements from eyewitnesses.
2. Refusing to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
When a person is first injured, they may not know just how badly they are hurt. The fear and confusion felt in the moment get the body's adrenaline pumping, which can numb your body and make you believe that you are not hurt that badly.
During your workplace accident, you may feel that you are hurt that bad because your pain level is minimal. However, once you get home, you may start to feel the full extent of your injuries. As a result, you may go to the hospital to seek care.
However, if you seek medical attention hours or a day after the injury, your employer may try to claim that you were either not hurt bad enough to necessitate time off or that you were injured off of the work site. To keep this from happening, ask to be taken straight to the hospital or the doctor right after the accident.
Even if you do not make the above mistakes and have a legitimate reason to file, your employer may still fight your claim in an attempt to not pay you. As soon as possible after your injury, speak with a workers' compensation attorney so that they can help you when you file for your benefits, as well as throughout the process.
