Life after a serious work injury can be a stressful experience. Your body is pain, you’re unable to work, and you’re worried how you will pay next month’s bills.
However, if you were injured while at work, your employer may be liable for some or all of your injuries. Follow these three steps to help you recover from an injury and receive compensation for you and your family.
Get Medical Care
After a serious injury your first priority is your health. See a medical professional at your earliest convenience and request that your medical treatment be billed through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.
Serious workplace injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Severe cuts and lacerations
- Amputation
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
The severity of the injuries require that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
If for some reason your medical facility cannot contact your employer’s insurance company right away, keep your receipts and submit them for reimbursement. You will still be covered under your employer’s insurance as long as your treatment was reasonable, your injury was caused by work activity, and your employer was notified in a timely manner.
If you meet these requirements and are still denied coverage, hire an attorney. They are familiar with workers’ compensation law and they can get you the help you need.
Tell Your Boss About Your Injury
Workers’ Compensation Laws vary from state to state, but most states require you to inform your employer within 30 days of your injury.
After you inform your employer of your injury, your employer will help you start your state’s worker’s compensation process. Once your claims are approved you will be awarded compensation in the form of medical benefits or wage replacement benefits.
Talk to a Lawyer
When you file for workers’ compensation claims there are no guarantees you will be sufficiently compensated. Your employer may deny your claims, you may not receive adequate coverage, or you may have suffered permanent injuries that affect your ability to return to work.
A law firm like Chewning Legal is familiar with workers compensation or disability laws and can evaluate your situation to help you receive the benefits you need and deserve. They can help you claim Social Security Disability, medical benefits, vocational rehabilitation and retraining, and even family death benefits in the event of a workplace death.
Move Forward
Work injuries can greatly impact all parts of your life. They might make you pause for a second, but with the help of a medical and legal professionals you can put your workplace injury behind you and get you back on track.
*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.