Like many other people who experience an injury in the workplace, you may need to pursue a workers’ compensation claim to get the benefits you need to recover. The process can be confusing if you have never needed to file for these benefits before.
Try these tips to help ensure your claim is successful.
Meet the deadlines
After your injury, you must report the incident to your employer within 120 days. If the employer denies your benefits, you have three years from the date your injury occurred to file a claim. Missing these deadlines could mean that you give up the right to receive any benefits for your injury.
See your own doctor
Some employers will provide a list of six or more healthcare providers. If this is the case, you will need to see an employer-approved doctor for the first 90 days following your injury. After this initial period, you are free to choose your own physician. This may be the right choice for you, allowing you to receive a second opinion and find unbiased treatment.
Disclose all relevant information
If you have existing injuries or illnesses, you might worry that disclosing those details will jeopardize your chance of receiving workers’ compensation benefits. However, failure to provide all pertinent medical information may lead to a denial of your claim.
If your employer refuses your workers’ compensation benefits, you still have options to receive the financial assistance you need. Contact the attorneys at Schmidt, Kirifides & Rassias to determine what your next steps are.