A workplace injury or illness can wreak havoc on your life. It can leave you unable to work, meaning that you lose out on much needed income, and you can be hit with massive medical bills even if you have health insurance. All of this can compound to take a toll on your mental health, too, leaving you uncertain about what the future has in store for you.
But while the pressure of everything can feel crushing, you should take some comfort in knowing that you can seek workers’ compensation benefits, which could make all the difference in your stability and your ability to recover from your injuries and return to work.
That said, figuring out the best way to proceed on a workers’ compensation claim can be confusing, especially if you’ve never had to navigate this process in the past. That’s why in this post we want to give you some ideas for how to start building your workers’ compensation case. That way you’ll hopefully know what you need to do to position yourself to succeed on your claim.
We know you have a lot on your plate after being injured at work. However, there are some small steps you can take now to start building an aggressive workers’ compensation case. This includes doing the following:
- Writing down every detail you can remember about your workplace accident: Our memories tend to get fuzzy over the time. That can be problematic in a workers’ compensation case where you need to be able to recall with clarity the incident that led to your injury or illness. So, be sure to write down your account of the events as shortly after the incident as possible while being as detailed as possible.
- Seeking medical treatment and following recommendations: To succeed on your workers’ compensation claim, you’ll need medical evidence showing the extent of your harm and how it prevents you from working. If you skimp on your care and don’t follow your doctor’s recommendations, then there’s a good chance that your claim will be denied.
- Acting in accordance with your condition: You don’t want the insurance company that’s examining your workers’ compensation claim to see pictures of you on social media lifting weights or engaging in other activities that would be precluded by your claimed injuries. Remember that the insurance company is looking for ways to deny your claim, so don’t give them any evidence they can use to do that.
- Preparing for your independent medical examination: The insurance company will require you to be evaluated by what is supposed to be a neutral doctor. But these medical professionals are contracted with the insurance company, which can raise some concerns of bias. Therefore, it’s a good idea to anticipate the questions they’ll ask at your independent medical examination so that you can respond appropriately without drawing the viability of your claim into question.
Build an effective workers’ compensation claim that protects your interests
There’s a lot more that goes into a strong workers’ compensation claim. However, we hope that the tips mentioned above will prove useful as you start developing your workers’ compensation case. If you have questions about the process or want to learn more about how to zealously advocate for your interest, then please continue to read our other blog posts and the rest of your website. By doing so, you may chart a course that sets you up to secure the financial stability needed to reclaim your health and successfully return to work.