My name is Danielle Diaz. One of the things I've learned in life, both inside and outside the courtroom, is that it is important to not see others as your enemy. Even though you may see the prosecutor as your enemy, he or she is just trying to do a job. It may be possible that you can get a prosecutor or the judge to be sympathetic and get him or her on your side. In order to accomplish this, you need to understand the law. I feel that most individuals do not understand the law, which is why I was motivated to create this blog.
Douglas Thompson
After sustaining an injury at work, a lot of things may be running through your head. How did it happen and who's responsible for the medical bills? With worker's compensation, these worries are put to bed. You can make sure your worker's compensation claim goes smoothly thanks to this legal guide.
Notify the Appropriate Parties
Once you receive the necessary medical treatment and reach a stable condition, you need to notify the appropriate parties. Start with your boss or manager. Let them know how the accident unfolded and where you were at the time. They'll make an official report that is needed further down the road.
Your company should send this report to their insurance company, along with your worker's compensation application. Obtain a copy of this report, just in case your company doesn't follow up with the correct legal procedures.
If you don't hear back from the insurance company after several weeks, call them to check your claim's status.
Don't Get Discouraged with a Claims Rejection
If for any reason the insurance company denies your initial claim, don't get discouraged. This actually happens a lot, and your best course of action is to remain patient and file an appeal. Often times, you can secure an administrative hearing with the local worker's compensation board.
These hearings are designed to look more closely at your claims. During this time, you'll need to provide the necessary medical records and double-check your application. A simple error, such as a misspelling, may have thwarted your first claims attempt.
Hire an Attorney
Worker's compensation claims are extensive and don't get resolved over night. You can speed things up, though, by hiring a workers comp attorney. They'll double-check your application before it's ever sent off so unnecessary delays are avoided.
They'll also work with your doctors and gather the necessary medical records, showing how severe your injuries are and justifying your need for benefits. They can even work with the insurance adjusters assigned to your claim. You won't get bombarded with calls in the middle of the night seeking information about your case. You can take this time to recover, both mentally and physically, in peace.
There are a lot of legal steps to take when filing a worker's compensation claim. Luckily, this process doesn't have to be stressful if you make the right preparations immediately after the accident. The sooner you act, the better your chances are of getting approved for benefits the first time.