Five Things You can Do To Even The Odds When Filing a Workers' Compensation Claim
In part three of this series, 5 IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW IF YOU GET HURT AT WORK, we set the record straight and reminded you that the insurance company does not work for you. What's more, their job is to make a profit and your claim for lost wages and medical bills may stand in the way of that goal. Knowing this you can do what it takes to protect yourself and your family and we offered five helpful tips for how to do this. Here, in part four we are going to give you a little more detail about the five things you can do to even the odds when filing a Workers' compensation claim.
1. Report your injury promptly and to the right person
Report your claim, and fill out the First Report of Injury Form. The earlier you do this, the better. Be sure to report your injury to the right person, usually that's your supervisor and/or the human resources office. It's not enough to tell a co-worker and you can't assume your boss knows you got hurt at work even if you think he saw it or you told him you were hurting.
2. Document Your Injury
Description of Accident - When you fill out the description of your accident, describe how you got hurt and what you were doing. Were you on the clock, on the job site, doing a job duty? Explain that. Also be sure to list any witnesses who saw you, not just when you got hurt, but just before or after.
Description of injury - When you describe your injury, make sure that you list every body part involved. Often, people will only list the injury that's causing them the most pain in the moment, leaving out other areas they hit, bumped or bruised. No one wants to be a baby, right? Wrong! With serious injuries the loudest injury can often mask another less obvious injury, which seems minor at first only to develop into something far more serious down the road. List every bump and bruise, ache and pain to be sure.
3. Make Sure Your Medical Records Are in Order
- Tell your doctor that you were hurt at work and explain how it happened so their records accurately reflect that their treatment is for a work injury.
- Next, make sure the doctor or the office completes a Workers' Compensation form every time you go. Get a copy of that form and read it over before you leave the office to be sure it has been filled out accurately and completely. If there is a problem, politely ask if it can be corrected. You need that form to get your coverage for lost wages and bills.
4. Gather Evidence
You may need to prove you got hurt at work so think about what would help you do that and then gather the evidence you can. That might include taking pictures, saving your torn or stained clothes or getting a copy of a work video. Frequently, employers have video cameras at work, but the tapes are only saved for a short time. So if you think your injury may have been on camera ask for a copy of the tape or at least that it be saved. Do this right away and do this in writing if you can.
5. You Can Afford to Hire an Attorney If You Want Help
You may be able to handle your claim on your own, but if you need help, there are great resources for free information and ways to hire an attorney without paying any money up front.
See part five of this series next week to learn more about free and affordable options for legal help with workers' compensation claims.