How To Get A Fair Amount From Your Workers’ Compensation Settlement

If you are injured at work, you may be worried about how you are going to recover and get your life back on track.

The truth is, evaluating how an accident or an injury will affect yourself and your future in the long run is definitely not an easy task, and that is why it is important for you to get the maximum amount of compensation possible. In the end, it is not about selfishness or greediness, it is about protecting your future.

However, mistakes during a workers’ compensation settlement can be costly, and these mistakes can happen often due to the complexity of the process.

In this article, we have compiled a list of practical steps to help you get the best out of your workers’ compensation settlement. 

1. Hire an Experienced Attorney

Insurance companies are accountable to their shareholders, and that is the biggest reason why they frequently deny workers’ compensation claims to save money. Initially, a low amount of compensation will be offered to you but you should never accept it.

The experts at LPWLAWFIRM explain that it is always beneficial to hire a legal expert who is knowledgeable in this specific area of the law to help you. Even if your case seems relatively simple, the insurance company will try to reduce or deny your benefits, or even ignore your claim altogether and this is where a workers’ compensation attorney is invaluable.

From helping you to understand the compensation system, negotiating offers in a way that is beneficial for you or representing you in appeals, a workers’ compensation attorney can do it all. There is too much to lose by attempting to battle insurance companies on your own, and it will not cost much to find out how a specialized attorney can help you.

2. Inform Your Employer About Your Injury Immediately

Different states have various regulations about the deadlines that workers have to report their injuries to their bosses, so figure that out before anything else. If this deadline is missed, you may lose certain rights and benefits in terms of your compensation. Therefore, report your work-related injury to your employer immediately.

From there, you will be given a workers’ compensation claim form that needs to be filled out completely and accurately and this will begin the workers’ compensation settlement process.

3. Seek Immediate Medical Treatment

Trying to tough it out and postpone your meeting with the doctor is never a good idea as prompt medical care can lead to a faster and more thorough recovery.

Treatment expenses are always important in these situations, so make sure that you document your injuries, along with a detailed description of what kind of care you will need from thereon, as they will help you in your claim. Any delay in getting medical treatment will give the insurance company ammunition to deny your claim.

It is important to note that the physician that you have to work with will most likely be someone authorized by the insurance company and so there may be a potential conflict of interest in place. Therefore, if you feel like you are not getting the best treatment possible, consider switching your doctor to one that you can trust and will give you an honest evaluation.

4. Understand Your Workers’ Compensation Benefits and Disability Rating

Many workers’ compensation claims are filed by employees who suffer injuries that to some extent leave them with a disability, so you should figure that out before considering the compensation that you are willing to accept. From there, the compensation benefits that are available to you will be explained, by your workers’ compensation agency or attorney of choice.  

5. Keep Track of Detailed Records

The success of your workers’ compensation claim depends a lot on the documentary evidence that you provide in court so be mindful of making copies of everything. Medical records, work accident reports and written eye witness accounts will all be powerful evidence in your favor when it comes to fighting your case.

These records and documents are essential for getting your workers’ compensation claim approved and paid. Provide as much evidence as possible when requesting reimbursement from your employer or insurance company and you will maximize your chance of a favorable outcome. 

At the very least, every employee has the right to be able to go to work without having to be worried about being injured on the job. If you sustain an injury as the result of an injury at work then you are entitled to be duly compensated. It is really important to take the right steps in order to obtain the compensation that you are entitled to.