About Getting Compensated After A Job Injury
Suffering from a severe injury that happened at work is not something that you should push aside, even if you are scared of getting fired. If the injury is severe enough to interfere with your ability to perform your job, you should consider filing a workers compensation claim. You can always hire a lawyer for assistance if the claim for benefits is denied or if your employer begins threatening you. This article provides several tips that can give you guidance on obtaining workers compensation benefits.
1. Inform Your Employer About the Injury
The most important step to obtaining workers compensation benefits is to inform your employer about the injury. You should not take a long time to report the injury, as it can make the claim less believable. For instance, your employer can then say that you were not actually injured at work. Even if it has been a few days since the injury occurred, you should still let your employer know if you are in need of workers compensation benefits.
2. Get Examined by a Physician Without Delay
In order for you to prove that you were injured at work, you must be seen by a physician while still suffering from it. You will especially need proof from a physician if you need to take time off from work to heal. Keep in mind that some employers would prefer that you are treated by a physician that is appointed by them, so ask in advance. A physician will not only be able to prove that you are injured, but also that it happened at work.
3. File an Official Workers Compensation Claim
Make sure that you formally file a workers compensation claim with your employer. For example, there should be a form available for you to fill out about the injury. The form will need information that includes the date of the injury, how it happened, who witnessed it, and a few other details. You can ask your employer for the claims form, and if you are denied the form, it might be a good idea to hire a lawyer.
4. Hire a Lawyer if it Becomes Necessary
If your employer begins giving you the run around about your injury, your next step should be to take legal action. A lawyer can then speak to your lawyer on your behalf to resolve the situation in a cordial way. If your employer still doesn't cooperate after speaking to a lawyer, the situation will then become a lawsuit. The lawyer will work hard to obtain as much evidence as possible to prove that you deserve to be compensated. Visit websites like http://www.lovettlaw.com/ to learn more.