Avoid These 5 Common Workers’ Comp Mistakes

Don’t let common workers’ comp mistakes derail your claim.

When you are injured at work, it is important to know your rights and options under the workers’ compensation system.

Unfortunately, many injured workers make common workers’ comp mistakes that can jeopardize their chances of getting the benefits they need and deserve.

Here are five of the most common workers’ compensation mistakes:

1. Not Reporting the Injury Right Away

It’s important to report workplace injuries to your employer immediately. Some workers wait to see if the injury will heal on its own or they worry that reporting the injury will result in retaliation from their employer. However, waiting too long to report an injury can make it more difficult to get workers’ compensation benefits. This is one of the most common workers’ comp mistakes because people assume they don’t need to act quickly.

2. Not Seeing a Doctor

You should see a doctor as soon as possible after a workplace injury. Many workers try to tough it out and not see a doctor, but this can lead to further injury and complications. If you do not see a doctor, your employer may claim that the injury is not work-related.

Even if you believe you aren’t seriously injured, it’s important to see a doctor. Doing so creates a paper trail of the incident and ensures that there’s nothing that went unnoticed. If you fail to see a doctor, you might lose out on compensation because people in charge decide your claim isn’t worth it.

Don’t let pride or laziness or wanting to be tough become damaging workers’ compensation mistakes.

3. Not Following Your Doctor’s Instructions

You must follow your doctor’s instructions after a workplace accident. This means taking the time to recover and not going back to work before you are healed. If you do not follow your doctor’s instructions, your employer may claim that the injury is not work-related.

It’s tempting, especially if you’re feeling good or you are eager to get back to work or other activities, to disregard what your doctor says. This can impact your case negatively. The last thing you want after a workplace injury is to lose out on compensation because you ignore what your doctor tells you to do or not do.

4. Failing to Complete the Paperwork

One of the most common workers’ comp mistakes is failing to complete the paperwork. This can include filing a claim with your employer or the workers’ compensation board or filling out the necessary forms for medical treatment. If you do not complete the paperwork, you may not be able to get the benefits you need.

It’s important not to feel overwhelmed by the paperwork. There are people who can help you sort through the information and figure out how to deal with it. But in most cases, paperwork associated with workers’ compensation is as simple as explaining the details of the incident.

5. Not Hiring an Attorney to Help You Avoid Common Workers’ Comp Mistakes

You should hire an attorney after you suffer a workplace injury. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the workers’ compensation system and make sure that you receive the benefits you deserve.

An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you avoid these common workers’ comp mistakes and get the benefits you need and deserve.

To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, contact Shugarman & Mehring at 410.783.4200 or toll-free at 888.342.7200.