1-855-722-2552
Being injured on the job can be a devastating experience. It can impact your financial stability, your physical health and your quality of life. The workers’ compensation system exists to help you overcome these challenges.
Unfortunately, the process of obtaining the benefits is not always a simple process. Having a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer in West Palm Beach on your side may help you receive the benefits you need to move forward with your life. Below are some ways that you can protect the full value of your workers’ compensation claim.
Report Your Injury Quickly
Florida workers’ compensation law requires you to report your injury within 30 days of the accident. However, you should report your injury as soon as possible. If you delay in reporting your injury, your claim will likely be denied. The claims administrator may believe that you were not injured at all or that you are exaggerating your injuries if you wait to file your claim.
Seek Medical Treatment
Seeking prompt medical attention can be important to the value of your workers’ compensation claim. Having a delay in treatment can result in the insurance company not believing that you were as seriously injured as you claim or that you were never injured in the first place.
Consider Switching Doctors
If your claim is denied or you want to challenge your disability rating, your workers’ compensation doctor will play an important role in your case, so it is important to have a doctor who is focused on your best interests as a patient.
Florida workers’ compensation law does allow you to switch doctors if you become dissatisfied with the care you are receiving, but you can make this change only once during your workers’ compensation case. The insurance company chooses your replacement unless it has not assigned you to a new doctor within five days of receiving your written request for a new doctor. If you are receiving treatment from a managed care network, you can select another in-network provider.
Collect Witness Statements
If other people observed your accident, it is important that you provide their contact information to your workers’ compensation lawyer so that he or she can interview them and collect witness statements from them. Your employer’s insurer might try to establish that you caused your own injuries or had a pre-existing injury in an attempt to deny your claim, so an objective witness can be powerful in these types of cases.
Understand Your Available Benefits
You may be eligible to a variety of workers’ compensation benefits, such as:
- Temporary disability benefits
- Permanent disability benefits
- Medical benefits
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Mileage reimbursement
Keep Detailed Records
Be sure that you keep detailed records of your medical records, employment records and correspondence with the insurance company. Provide these documents to your workers’ compensation lawyer to help substantiate your claim.
Hire an Attorney
If you are having issues with obtaining benefits after a work-related injury, we recommend that you consider hiring an attorney. Filing a workers’ compensation claim can be a complicated and overwhelming process to do on your own, especially when you are trying to focus on your recovery. Our legal team at Gordon & Partners can help you navigate through the workers’ compensation system and fight for your right to full compensation. We may even be able to assist you with an appeal if necessary.
Contact us today at 1 (855) 722-2552 to schedule a complimentary case evaluation.
