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Work injuries are far more common than you might imagine. Whether you work as a driver, a construction worker, or in an office, you are always prone to a severe injury that changes your life in a matter of seconds. After a severe workplace accident, you may feel hopeless and frustrated. However, you should keep in mind that you are entitled to receive benefits to deal with your medical expenses, lost wages, and much more.
However, if you want to get the compensation you need to regain control of your life, you must be ready to safeguard your rights as an American worker. Read on if you want to learn about your rights after a work injury and the steps you should take to protect them.
What are your rights after a work injury?
Workers’ compensation laws vary from state to state. Therefore, the specific rights workers have after work-related injuries will also differ.
Generally, the workers’ rights that tend to be similar in all states are the following:
- You have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim following an on-the-job injury.
- You have the right to receive the medical care necessary to treat your short-term and long-term injuries.
- If you don’t qualify for workers’ compensation, you have the right to file all compensation claims available to you.
- You have the right to appeal decisions related to your workers’ compensation case.
- Additionally, you have the right to be represented by a workers’ compensation attorney throughout the process.
7 steps to protect your rights
There are 7 steps to protect your rights.
1. Notify your employer
Report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. Describe the events leading up to the accident in detail and provide the names of all witnesses.
Don’t wait until you feel better before notifying your employer; you should do this right after the incident. If you wait too long, you may end up losing the opportunity to file a workers’ compensation claim.
2. Seek medical attention as soon as possible
Your job is not more important than your health. After a work-related injury, you should see a doctor immediately. This is a crucial step in getting the compensation you need.
The doctor will treat your injuries and issue a medical report that will establish the severity of your condition. This document will solidify the fact that your injury is work-related and will be crucial to your claim.
On the other hand, keep in mind that if you are not satisfied with the opinion of your first treating physician, it may be worthwhile to see a different doctor.
3. Be careful with what you sign.
After your injury, you will have to fill out different workers’ compensation forms to begin your claim. However, you should be extra careful about what you sign during this time. If you sign the wrong document, you may waive your right to receive the compensation you deserve.
4. Keep records of every detail
Keep detailed records of all your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses caused by your injury. If you want to obtain the maximum possible compensation for your case, you must be aware of every penny you have lost due to your damages.
5. Consider your options
Before proceeding with your claim, you should consider all of the compensation options available to you. For example, if you are an independent contractor, you may need to sue your employer to receive any type of monetary settlement. On the other hand, if you are a full-time employee, but a third party caused your injuries, you may be able to sue them for additional compensation aside from workers’ compensation benefits. These can be obtained through legal formalities which the Louisiana injury attorney can help you out with.
6. File a claim with the insurance company
After your injury, you will need to fill out a workers’ compensation form and submit it to your employer. Your employer will then turn it over to the insurance company to begin the process.
It may sound simple, but it rarely is. Initially, you might receive a minimal compensation offer from the insurance company, or they may deny your claim altogether. After all, they are looking to save as much money as possible.
If this happens to you, don’t let them get away with it and contact a workers’ compensation attorney.
7. Contact a local Workers’ compensation attorney.
The workers’ compensation process is often frustrating and confusing. However, you don’t have to deal with it all on your own; an attorney can help.
A Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney, such as C&B Law Group, will be of great help during this challenging time in your life. The attorney will advise on what type of claim you should pursue and aggressively negotiate with the insurance company to secure the maximum compensation available for your case. In other words, an attorney will defend your rights every step of the way.
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