If you were recently injured while performing your job duties, you need to begin the process of filing for workers’ compensation benefits, so you can comfortably recover from your injuries while you are taking time away from work. Oftentimes, people are unfamiliar with the complexities involved in such cases and make mistakes that reduce their ability to get the most out of these vital benefits.
To ensure you get the most of your workers’ compensation benefits, take the following steps:
- Report your injury as soon as possible: Missing the deadline for reporting your injury to your employer can cost you your workers’ compensation benefits, so make sure you take care of this as soon as possible.
- Seek medical treatment immediately: Assuming you are not whisked away in an ambulance for your injuries, you should still seek medical treatment as soon as you can. This will help you achieve a speedier recovery and serve as critical documentation in your workers’ compensation claim. Without this paper trail of evidence, your employer’s insurance company might argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim them to be or that you were never actually injured.
- Know your benefits: It will be impossible to get the most out of your benefits if you do not actually know what your benefits are. Depending on the injuries you suffered, you might be entitled to temporary disability benefits or permanent disability benefits. Additionally, your medical expenses will be covered, including the mileage you must travel to seek treatment or attend visits to your doctor.
- Prepare for independent medical examinations: This is nothing like your other visits to the doctor. Instead, the independent medical examination (IME) focuses on determining whether you are being truthful or not in regards to your injury. To accomplish this, the IME doctor will review your medical records, perform an examination, and ask you questions regarding your condition. You can prepare for this by reviewing your medical records as well and asking your workers’ compensation attorney for advice on how to field the trickier questions.
- Maintain detailed records: Keeping good records is imperative for any legal matter, including those related to workers’ compensation. Keep all correspondence between you and the insurance company, copies of completed forms, the accident report, your medical records, and any other documents that might be pertinent to your claim.
Of course, one of the best things you can do to ensure you maximize your workers’ compensation benefits is to hire an attorney who is experienced in handling such matters.
Fighting on Behalf of Injured Workers in Sacramento Since 1969!
If you sustained a workplace injury, you should not postpone filing for workers’ compensation benefits. At Smolich and Smolich in Sacramento, our workers’ compensation attorneys will help you navigate this complex process and ensure you are able to obtain the benefits to which you are entitled, so you can recover from your injuries with as little stress as possible.
Contact our experienced legal team today at (916) 571-0400 and request your complimentary case review with one of our knowledgeable attorneys. If we cannot win your case, you will not owe us any legal fees!