One of the biggest issues with workers’ compensation claims is that workers often only start to learn about them after an incident. They then get stuck with huge medical bills not knowing what’s going to happen next. What’s worse is that many will experience pushback from their employer, which is something many of them would’ve never expected. But this is the reality, and some employers and insurance companies will do everything that they can to pay you as little as possible. Thankfully, there are things you can do to make sure that you’re properly compensated. Here are a few of them.
Know the Proper Procedure
If you’ve been involved in an accident and believe you have a case, you must know the rules in your jurisdiction. Most states will have their own rules as to how long after the incident you can file a lawsuit, and how much damages you can get. So, we suggest you speak with a lawyer who’s familiar with workers’ compensation laws where you are. If you live in Scranton, for instance, we suggest you speak with Scranton workers’ compensation lawyer at Munley Law. Pennsylvania has some very particular laws concerning workers’ compensation and they’ll be able to navigate you through them while giving you realistic expectations of what you can get.
Make Sure You Have a Legitimate Case
You also have to know if you have a legitimate cause in the first place. There are many cases where you can be eligible for workers’ compensation. The first one is on-job injuries. Note that this may or may not be while you’re performing your duties. Slip and fall injuries, collisions, and loss of limb should all qualify as long as they happened at your workplace.
Another type of injury is repetitive stress. One example is carpal tunnel syndrome. If you develop it and can link it to your work, you could have a claim depending on the laws where you are. Other examples of repetitive stress injuries include tendonitis and bursitis.
Occupational illness is another common type of injury you can get compensation for and usually occurs when workers get in contact with dangerous elements, such as lead or asbestos, for instance. Working with a good lawyer will again be very important as they’ll be able to tell you what you can and cannot claim for.
Report the Incident Correctly
The incident has to be reported immediately to the employer or a supervisor. If you haven’t already, do it as soon as possible. You should also try to get as much evidence on the scene as possible, as well as accounts from other people. Make sure that you give your employee as many details of the incident as possible and write down everything you can remember as well. You should also report everything to your union if you belong to one.
Taking these steps will help maximize your chances of getting the maximum compensation for your claims. Who you pick to represent you will also make a huge difference, so choose wisely.