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
For those injured at work, your employer's workers' comp insurance is quite a valuable resource. With this coverage, you can rest at home while still earning a portion of your salary and have your related medical expenses all taken care of. You should know, however, that your ability to get and keep this coverage depends on several time-sensitive events, so read on to learn more about workers' comp-related deadlines.
What to do right away.
Prompt reporting to your work supervisor is vital. You may not have a specific deadline for reporting in your state, but failure to report in a timely manner could damage the validity of your claim. After all, if your injury is serious enough for you to seek medical attention and miss work, it should be serious enough for you to ensure that your supervisor knows about it and files the required reports with the workers' comp insurance company. Be sure to make it clear that your injury or illness is directly job-related, so there won't be any doubt in your supervisor's mind of the need to file a claim. Usually, a verbal notification is all that is necessary to get the ball rolling on your claim.
Exceptions for reporting the injury or illness.
In certain circumstances, you won't be expected to inform your supervisor of your injury in a timely manner. If you are incapacitated in some manner, such as being hospitalized, you won't be expected to report until you are able. Keep in mind that you won't receive workers' comp benefits until your supervisor becomes aware of your injury and files a claim, so try to contact them as soon as possible.
Another common work-related situation can arise with cumulative injuries. These are injuries that take some time to become apparent, such as asbestos exposure diseases or carpal tunnel syndrome. You must still inform your supervisor as soon as you become aware of the nature of the disorder or injury, or your claim may lose some credibility. Seek medical care promptly and allow your health insurance company to file a claim for reimbursement from the workers' comp insurance company for your initial medical expenses.
Deadlines to file a claim.
Workers' comp programs are regulated by each state individually, so the deadline for your supervisor to file a claim from the time your report your injury can vary. Your state's Department of Labor website should be helpful with state-specific deadlines.
If you are having trouble with your workers' comp claim, contact a workers compensation attorney right away.