Sustaining an injury or developing an illness due to your work can have a devastating impact on your life. If you’re diagnosed with a life-threatening condition because of an occupational illness or you experience a life-changing injury because of an accident, for example, you’ll certainly want to ensure that you have the support you need to cope with the situation.
One of the ways you can access support is by claiming workers comp. This is designed to ensure that you can access financial compensation if you’re unable to work due to an injury or illness that was caused or exacerbated by your job.
To increase the likelihood of being awarded workers’ comp, however, you’ll need to know the common errors to avoid. With this in mind, take a look at these three common workers’ comp mistakes and find out how to avoid them:
1. Missing Deadlines
You don’t have to initiate a workers’ comp claim within hours or even days of being hurt, but it is important to be aware that claims are subject to time limits. You need to notify your employer of the injury or illness relatively swiftly, for example. By finding out how long you’ve got take action, you can ensure that you don’t miss out on your chance to obtain financial compensation.
Conversely, people sometimes avoid making a claim because they assume they’ve left it too long. However, the timer in workers’ comp claims usually starts ticking from the date of the incident or the date of your diagnosis, so you could have longer to make a claim than you think.
2. Claiming for the Wrong Type of Compensation
When claiming workers’ comp, you’ll need to claim for either total or partial disability status benefits. This will depend on the type of injuries or illness you’re experiencing and the impact your health has on your ability to undertake day-to-day tasks, such as your job duties.
Medical evidence can be used to support this aspect of your claim, and is usually required, but it’s still easy to make mistakes or misinterpret the claims forms. Sadly, this often leads to unnecessary delays or claims being rejected.
3. Not Claiming for Enough Benefits
Many people assume that workers’ comp is designed to cover the cost of lost wages, but there are many other elements that can be included in your claim. In Pennsylvania, for example, the cost of your medical bills and specific loss benefits can be incorporated into your claim, and, if accepted, will significantly increase the amount of compensation you’re able to obtain.
Getting Legal Advice Before Making a Workers’ Comp Claim
If you want to avoid your claim being rejected or delayed due to errors, getting legal advice is the easiest way to ensure your workers’ comp claim is handled effectively. With an experienced personal injury lawyer working on your behalf, you can increase the likelihood of your claim being approved and ensure that you get the maximum amount of compensation you’re entitled to.