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Hiring a lawyer can be the difference between getting the compensation you deserve and not getting anything at all. When you get hurt at work, you can’t afford to take chances. Be sure to contact a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as you can to get your claims process started.
Common Workplace Injuries
When you’re hurt at work, the effects can be long-lasting, which is why it’s important to get the claims process started as soon as you can. If you’re not sure if your injury will qualify for benefits, learning about some of the most common workplace injuries can be a good place to start.
You may think that your injury won’t qualify for benefits when the truth is it may. This is also why hiring an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer to help can be a good plan.
Some of the most commonly occurring workplace injuries include:
- Struck against an object: Injuries involving an object such as a window, door, or wall.
- Slips and falls: Injuries caused by slipping on a wet or slippery floor, an uneven floor surface, or icy/uncleared walkways in winter.
- Traffic incidents: Injuries sustained in accidents that involve company vehicles.
- Struck by an object: Injuries from falling objects or objects dropped by another person.
- Workplace assaults: Injuries in which one or more workers is assaulted.
- Repetitive motion: Injuries including back injuries and carpal tunnel, which are caused by repeating the same motion over and over.
- Caught in/compressed by: Typically involving heavy machinery, these injuries often take place in factories.
- Fall to a lower level: Injuries from falling off a roof, off a ladder, down stairs, etc.
- Overexertion: Perhaps the most common work injury of all, overexertion injuries involve holding, carrying, throwing, lifting, pulling, and pushing.
What to Know About Workers Compensation Cases
Workers’ compensation attorneys are able to help walk you through the entire process of filing a claim, but for your own good, it’s important to understand some of the different aspects of the case.
For instance, you should know what the statute of limitations is for your injury, what types of paperwork you need to retain for filing a claim (medical records, incident reports, etc.), and what type of compensation you should fight for. Some types of compensation include lost wages, permanent injury, and medical bill reimbursement.
To learn more about any of these aspects of the work injury claim you’re filing, a workers’ compensation lawyer can be a great help.
The Process of Claim Filing
Filing a work injury claim doesn’t have to be complicated, and when you have quality legal representation on your side, it’s much easier.
First, you have to notify your employer of the incident. It’s generally required to report the incident within seven days of it happening. If you seek medical treatment for your injury, be sure to make the medical professionals aware of the fact that you have a work-related injury, because your employer may require you to see certain doctors or visit specific facilities.
Next, the insurance carrier will open a claim for benefits. They do this after receiving reports from the doctor or employer, and if the claim is found to be compensable, they’ll contact the injured person and the employer to work out an agreement for the rate of pay the injured person will receive during their time out of work. If the claim is denied, the worker will be able to appeal that decision.
