There’s no denying that work-related accidents happen often in certain industries. For example, if you work in heavy labor, you must execute dangerous activities while being on your feet all the time. Broken bones, lacerations, and infections might result from even a single error made by a coworker or yourself.
A worker’s compensation attorney might support you in your efforts to recover damages if you were hurt at work as a result of someone else’s carelessness. Naturally, many people don’t plan for a work-related accident, yet this might result in blunders.
People who happen to sustain work-related injuries need to know what to do and what not to do. The most frequent errors might considerably reduce the settlement or benefits that a person could be eligible for. To make things easier if you ever find yourself in such a situation, here are the top five mistakes that you need to avoid if you want to settle for the highest amount possible.
Having No Representation
The belief that they can manage the situation on their own without legal counsel is a major error made by those who have sustained a workplace accident.
Although it is legal to represent yourself in court, doing so is strongly advised against, which is why you should enlist the help of workman comp lawyers. Insurance companies are not on your side, despite what they say and how they portray themselves to you. It is in their best interest to provide you with the least amount of compensation feasible for your injury. Insurance providers are skilled at exploiting the gaps and using a variety of deceptive tactics to coerce persons pursuing workers’ compensation claims into making errors that might jeopardize their cases.
Your employer and the insurance provider will take you more seriously if you have a skilled workers’ comp attorney on your side, so make sure to avoid making this mistake and find an experienced attorney who will fight on your behalf.
Not Making A Timely Report Of A Work Injury
Another very frequent mistake that people who have suffered a work-related injury make is to delay telling their employer about their injury. For instance, according to Florida’s worker’s compensation rules, an injured employee must notify their employer or supervisor of any injury-related accident within 30 days. If an occupational sickness caused the harm, the employee has 90 days starting from the first medical symptom to file a claim.
Even if an incident appears small, it’s important to report it right away in case your health worsens. Having a documentation trail for the progression of your ailment might also aid with the claims procedure.
Failing To Disclose Any Prior Workplace Accidents
Failure to report any prior workplace injuries ranks as the third most frequent error made by injured workers. Any failure to report a past event might result in you losing all of your compensation, regardless of how small the accident looked to be, or if you withheld reporting the injury out of fear of losing your employment.
Be open and honest about any prior instances of getting wounded at work while filling out medical history documents for a doctor’s appointment, talking with an insurance adjuster, or meeting with a case manager. This requirement still applies even if you reveal details about a condition unrelated to your prior injury.
Not Reporting All Workplace Injuries
Not telling your doctor about the full degree of your work-related ailments is the fourth most frequent error. Don’t forget to tell your employer if you fall at work and suffer damage to your leg in addition to a back injury.
It will appear that you are trying to get less compensation than you are entitled to if you fail to mention subsequent injuries. Additionally, there is a chance that this will be seen as worker’s compensation fraud. In addition to any discomfort or possible injuries, it is also important that you report any additional symptoms that you are experiencing that may be linked to the work accident.
Make a note of any questions you have for your doctor both before and after therapy. Whether it be a diagnosis, a treatment plan, or any other information, enquire about any specifics you are unsure of. This way, you lower your chances of forgetting to inquire about anything crucial by outlining your queries and worries beforehand.
Avoiding Going Back To Work When You Can
The refusal to go back to work when you can is the fifth and last major mistake that injured workers do. In fact, even turning down an employment offer with a lesser salary might be regarded as forfeiting revenue.
If you want to keep your job, you must continue to seek to fill the position once your injury is dealt with, even if you don’t think you can do the job’s responsibilities. You may only assert that you are unable to perform the obligations of the new post after you can demonstrate that they are beyond your capabilities.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this post has given you insight into some common mistakes people make after suffering a work injury. By avoiding these traps, you can ensure that you’re taking all the necessary steps to get back to feeling like yourself again as quickly as possible.
Also read: How to Find the Best Business Insurance for Small Businesses
