5 Mistakes to Avoid When Filing a Work Injury Claim

A workplace accident is an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly. Workers’ compensation is designed to ensure a worker is fairly compensated for an injury or illness caused while working. If you are injured in a workplace accident, you need to avoid some common mistakes that can reduce your chances of getting fair compensation.

Mistake #1: Not Reporting Your Injury Immediately

If you are injured at work or are diagnosed with a work-related illness or condition, you should immediately report it to your employer. If you are experiencing any pain or discomfort due to the injury or condition, do not attempt to continue working. Consult an attorney (work injury specialist) to learn about the next course of action.

While workers usually feel disoriented or weak after sustaining an injury at work, it is vital that you take care of your health. Stop the work-related activities and report the injury or condition to your employer as early as possible. You should document all communications with your employer regarding the injury or condition. You can use this as proof during the due diligence process.

Mistake #2: Not Seeking Medical Care Right Away

At times, the workers underestimate their physical conditions or injuries and continue working as if nothing has happened. This worsens their health and ruins their chances of getting fair compensation. If you are injured at work or diagnosed with an ailment, you should get medical attention as soon as possible.

While a doctor checks your injury and overall healthcare, communicate where you feel pain, tightness, or discomfort. You can also ask the doctor when you can go back to work. Follow your doctor’s advice to avoid worsening your injury or condition.

Mistake #3: Not Getting a Full Report of the Accident or Injury

You may be surprised to know how many workers’ compensation claims are fraudulent. Employers usually gather all the facts surrounding the incident to verify the legitimacy of a workers’ compensation claim. If you are filing a claim, talk to the co-workers and other staff at the workplace who witnessed the event and document their accounts.

If you can access any video footage of the incident, preserve it as evidence. These things will help your employer understand what happened during the incident. At the same time, it will help them learn what safety procedures at the workplace need improvement to prevent such incidents in the future.

Mistake #4: Leaving out Details or Exaggerating Your Injury

If you are injured at work, you need to provide a detailed description of how your injury occurred and what symptoms you were (or still are) experiencing due to the injury. Remember, you need to give these details in your claim as well as to your doctor. In such situations, it is recommended that you stay objective and present all the information relevant to your injury truthfully. This will improve your chances of receiving a fair compensation.

The details should include important dates, location, relevant prior injuries or illnesses, and evolving symptoms. Try to document everything about the incident. Since physical symptoms can change over time, it is better to keep everything documented. Also, do not exaggerate your injury. If the deciding authority sees inconsistency in your statements, they may dismiss your claim.

Mistake #5: Giving a Recorded Statement to Your Insurance Company

You must be very careful if the insurance company asks you to submit a recorded statement. Anything you say in a recorded statement could be twisted or used against you. Insurance companies deal with hundreds of such claims every month. They know various ways to use your statement to deny your claim.

To avoid such things from happening, contact a reliable workers’ compensation attorney and seek their guidance while dealing with the insurance company. The attorney can also help you navigate the complexities of filing a claim and provide legal advice on how to proceed with the whole thing.

Wrapping Up

With the growing number of insurance frauds, employers and insurance companies are very strict about approving a workers’ compensation claim. To ensure you get fairly compensated for the pain and suffering due to your workplace injury and the lost wages, avoid the aforementioned mistakes at all costs. Also, hire a skilled attorney to help you secure the compensation you deserve.