If you suffer an injury at work, you are traditionally covered by workers’ compensation insurance. However, there are some things you need to do to make sure your insurance plan pays the medical bills rather than out of pocket. In some cases, you may need to seek help from a workers compensation attorney who specializes in these types of procedures.
Understand the process
To know when to get help, you must first understand what types of injuries qualify for coverage. The injury must occur on the job during normal or extra duties. If it happens during lunch or regular breaks, it isn’t always covered because you aren’t supposed to be working during those times. Vulnerability should be something related to your job performance.
In order for insurance to cover cumulative injuries, such as carpal tunnel or back injuries due to sitting or standing, they must be lifted in time. These injuries are difficult to prove only based on an X-ray or a medical examination. Unless there is accurate medical documentation, some companies treat these complaints as suspicious. Then the employees have a harder time getting the company to take care of any medical bills.
In order to increase your chances of getting approved, you don’t want to wait to file a claim. However, applying early does not guarantee that you will be compensated. If you are rejected, you can appeal the decision and here a qualified workers compensation attorney is your best ally.
Meet your attorney
When you meet with your lawyer, you must explain the circumstances of your injury. Explain all the steps you took to document the injury. You should also let them know when you are presenting and provide copies of all documents.
At this time, he will give you information about your options. You may end up in court or there may be a negotiation between you and the commercial insurance company. Your lawyer will be with you on any of the proceedings.
Some employers do not carry the insurance recommended to help cover costs in the event of a workplace injury. If this is the case, a workers compensation attorney can help you negotiate a settlement in which the employer will reimburse you for the medical expenses related to the injury. There are times when this might go to court and you end up filing a lawsuit for a settlement. The whole process varies as there may be no official documents provided to the business owner.
A workers compensation attorney can also help if you are fired due to an injury. Workplace injuries cannot be a reason for your abandonment and you can file a wrongful termination suit. While you will most likely get your job back, you can be compensated for lost wages until such time that you can get a new job.
Because laws vary from state to state, it may be in your best interest to contact a workers compensation attorney before filing any paperwork to make sure it is completed correctly. This helps ensure that your insurance compensation claim is approved and avoids lengthy legal procedures.