While going about your regular work duties, you may have an accident. Regardless of the mechanics, the result is pain. Perhaps you jump up and continue on your way out of embarrassment. Maybe that response is not possible due to the severity of the injury. Despite how the work injury happened, you now have to add this to your already overflowing plate, and it may break it. A workers’ compensation claim may be your only resource to get you the compensation and medical treatment you need. Discover three things you can expect to deal with while going through the process.
1. Medical Treatment
If your work accident was severe enough, you might be transported from the scene to the emergency room. This commences the medical treatment portion of the workers’ compensation process. Even before a claim is filed, the events of the accident and the resulting injury will become part of the record. The treatment you receive, while initially perhaps expended out of pocket, will be covered if the insurer accepts the claim. If your injury did not require emergency medical treatment, your visit to a doctor or medical physician would act as the catalyst for the claim.
2. Accident Report
The document required to initiate a workers’ comp claim is your account of the incident to your employer. You should bring all medical documentation with you to provide to your employer. Having a doctor’s report is critical to the process. An insurance company will not open a case without this. They need proof that you suffered damage to the body at work. Once your employer takes the statement, they will want you to sign it. Doing so will not put you in jeopardy of losing anything. It is merely a formality, and once you sign it, the claim can begin.
3. Paid Benefits
The investigation into your claim may start with more paperwork required by the insurer. Be sure you read everything they send before answering and sending it back. You want to ensure that you do not waive your right to receive medical or pay benefits. If you are not sure what to do, you have the right to seek counsel from an attorney, like a workers compensation lawyer from a firm like Hickey & Turim, SC. During the investigation, the insurer may pay your medical benefits directly to the provider. If you are out of work because of the incident, you may also get temporary pay from the insurer.
Before agreeing to any settlement or final payment, consult a workers’ compensation lawyer for guidance. You do not want to get less than what your injury warrants.