If you are in the process of preparing to file a worker's compensation claim, here are five basic things that you need to know that will help you with filing your claim
#1 Hire A Lawyer
The first thing you need to do is hire a lawyer who is experienced in the area of worker's compensation law in your state. Filing a worker's compensation claim requires you to provide detailed documentation to prove your condition, and requires you to meet multiple, specific guidelines.
Hiring a lawyer from the beginning will help ensure that your case has the highest probability of success.
#2 Study Your Rights
The second thing you need to do is study and make sure that you understand your rights as a worker to demand compensation. If your accident was the result of your own reckless behavior or even negligence, you will not be granted worker's compensation. Your accident and injury has to be caused by either gross negligence or an intentional action on the part of your employer.
Make sure that you understand your rights before you move forward with your case.
#3 Keep Track Of All Expenses
The third thing you need to do is start keeping track of all your medical expenses. As you go through the process of filing your worker's compensation claim, you may be able to recover some of your medical costs that you have already incurred.
However, the only way you will be able to do so is if you keep through records that prove that your medical costs were directly related to the accident you had at work. So make sure that you ask for a receipt every time you go to your doctor, as well as an explanation of the charges. You should also get your doctor's notes from all your visits it possible, so that you can show your treatment tied into the incident you are seeking worker's compensation for.
Set up a file or folder system for all of your receipts and doctor's notes. Keep the information from each doctor in chronological order and make duplicate copies of everything.
If you need to file a worker's compensation claim, hire an experienced lawyer right away. Having the right guidance from the beginning will help you achieve a positive outcome with your case. Do not depend on your lawyer for everything though, make sure that you also study up and understand your rights, and keep track of all your medical encounters on your own. Contact a business, such as Freedman, Wagner, Tabakman & Weiss, for more information.
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