Injuries at work happen very often and many people are not informed what to do if this happens, which is very understandable. It is important to know what to do and what NOT to do in case you suffer any injuries at work. Opening a workers’ compensation may be difficult and tedious that’s why it is important to know what can greatly decrease your chances of a successful claim. If you would like to know more about what a workers’ compensation claim is, visit our website here.
There are different ways in which you can easily make a mistake and cause your workers’ compensation claim to be denied or receive fewer benefits:
- Failure to meet the reporting deadline: Florida law states that an injured employee must report his or her injuries within 30 days of the accident, it is best to report your injuries immediately. Some exceptions do exist, but by not reporting your injury on time you will run the risk of your claim being denied.
- Failure to report all injuries sustained at the time of the accident: You should report every part of your body that you experience damage or any symptom, even if it’s minor, this is to prevent the risk of being taken as a worker’s compensation fraud by bringing more injuries later in the claim.
- Avoiding employment offered to you by your employer: The doctor is the person that decides if you can return to work on light duty or full duty. If your employer has work available for you within the doctor’s restrictions, you must accept, or it would be considered a voluntary loss of income and you would be denied any further wage benefits.
- Failure to follow the authorized treatment provider’s instructions: It is important that you comply with the restrictions your doctor gives you and go to every appointment they schedule for you, if you don’t do so you will be at risk of losing all of your benefits.
- Excessive information provided during deposition: Your employer and their insurance legal counsel would schedule your deposition every so often to ask you questions regarding your claim, this deposition is only for the benefit of their case. It is very important that you don’t answer more than what they are asking. If you want to know more about depositions, please visit our last blog here.
- Failure to retain legal counsel representation: Your employer and their insurance company will have legal counsel representing them and you should too because they will only try to deny your claim or pay as little as possible. Even though they might try to say they are on your side, they are not, it’s best to hire your legal counsel to represent you and fight for your rights.
If you or someone you care about has been injured at work, contact the Law Office of Ruth E. Johnson immediately.
Remember when injured you get to choose your legal counsel, so have an experienced, aggressive, knowledgeable l team that aims to get you the most compensation for your losses. Choose the Law Office of Ruth E. Johnson.
If you want to know more information about workers’ compensation, please visit our page for further information here.