No one expects to get injured at work. Unfortunately, it happens more often than you think. The only thing you can really prepare for is how you can prevent being injured at work. But, not everything is preventable. If you found yourself injured at work and are fighting to get back on your feet and make ends meet, you might be entitled to receive workers' compensation benefits. To make sure you get what you deserve, here are a few tips and tricks you need to follow.
Report the injury as quickly as you can.
Many employees end up waiting a couple days to see how bad their injuries really are. They figure it is no big deal and they can simply walk it off and get back on their feet again. Unfortunately, that could end up hurting your claim in the end. You need to tell your employer right away about what happened. There is paperwork that has to be filled out to get the process started and underway. Don't wait until after a few days to take action. Time is of the essence when it comes to these types of claims.
Make sure you fill your paperwork out carefully and accurately.
Putting a bunch of fraudulent information on your paperwork could end up jeopardizing your workers' compensation benefits. Don't just guess on what you are filling out. Take the time to go over everything in detail to make sure there are no inconsistencies or inaccuracies. If you don't know the answer to a question, don't answer it or write unsure. Don't ever just put something in there to fill in a blank.
Don't refuse alcohol or drug tests after the injury.
Oftentimes, workers' compensation companies will want the employee to undergo alcohol and drug testing after the injury occurred. This is to verify that you were coherent and capable of performing your job properly. Being intoxicated or inebriated while on the job is going to cause you problems with your claim. However, those who did nothing wrong have nothing to worry about. If you refuse to take the tests, that gives insurance companies reason to believe that you are hiding something. This could affect your chances of receiving benefits.
If you ever have any questions or concerns about what you should or shouldn't be doing, you need to take the time to speak with a licensed workers' compensation attorney. To learn more, contact an attorney like Dennis Kenny Atty.
