Following a work-related injury, you are probably wondering what you have to do in order to obtain your worker’s compensation benefits. Luckily, the process is pretty simple; in order to be eligible to receive the benefits, assuming that you actually received an injury at work, you have to do the following:
- Report the injury to your superiors
- Seek medical attention
- Contact an attorney
- File a worker’s compensation claim
However, many people make mistakes and end up losing their benefits. To avoid becoming one of them, here are some common mistakes that you should try and avoid when filing a work comp claim.
Failing To Report The Injury
The first and the most common mistake is not reporting the injury to your superiors. By doing so, you directly disobey the statute of limitations (in California, you have 30 days to report the injury from the moment the injury happened). Failing to report the injury will make you ineligible to receive the benefits.
Also, missing the deadline can also leave you without your benefits. For that reason, you should always contact an attorney right after receiving an injury. While you are recovering from your injuries, you will have someone with experience and knowledge dealing with your claim and reminding you of how much time you have left to report the injury. Play it safe, and contact California workers compensation lawyer to learn more about worker’s compensation benefits and how you can increase your odds of obtaining them. The initial consultation is free of charge.
“I`m fine, I don’t have to see a doctor”
If you receive an injury at work and don’t visit a doctor right away, you risk losing your benefits. How? Well, proving that you received those injuries at work will be extremely difficult as you won’t have the doctor’s report. Without it, the insurance company may claim that you sustained those injuries outside of work and deny you your benefits.
NOTE: Before you visit a doctor, you should consult with your employer as you cannot visit any doctor you want. There are certain doctors that are “appointed and approved” by the insurance company, and their services will be completely covered by your benefits. Visiting any other doctor may result in you having to cover for your own medical costs.
“I Don’t need an attorney”
Many people thought that they don’t need an attorney in order to receive workers comp benefits. And yet, many were left without their benefits only because they had no one representing them. Did you know that according to statistics, you have approximately 30 percent chance of obtaining the benefits without an attorney?
With that in mind, always contact your local Los Angeles workers compensation attorneys as they have both the experience and knowledge and will greatly help you with your claim. Hiring an experienced attorney could cost you more than you could afford to lose. And since you only get one shot, you should maximize your odds of winning. Call today and schedule your free initial consultation.
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