If you experience an on-the-job injury, you can receive workers’ compensation benefits. One of the best parts about workers’ compensation is that it is a no-fault system. This means you can collect even if the injury was partially your fault (with some exceptions).
While this may sound like a “sure thing” if you are injured on the job, some mistakes may impact your ability to collect the benefits you are entitled to. Knowing what mistakes to avoid will help you protect your rights to workers’ comp.
Not reporting the incident right away
You must report the incident and injury to your supervisor or employer immediately. If you wait too long to do this, you may lose your ability to receive benefits. Your employer may also claim that the incident and injury did not occur at work, which can hinder your ability to receive the benefits you are entitled to.
Failing to keep track of your treatment and progress
Having your own journal and file containing information about your workplace injury is a smart step. You can use this to compare your records and your employer’s records. If there are inconsistencies, you can have them corrected to ensure there aren’t falsehoods that may cause you to lose access to benefits. Keep a record of everything related to your work and injury.
Not seeking medical treatment immediately
Getting medical care as soon as possible after an on-the-job injury is important. If you don’t, the insurance company may claim you were not hurt, that the injury isn’t bad or that it did not occur at work.
Protecting your rights to workers’ compensation benefits
If you are injured on the job, it’s important to avoid the mistakes above so you can collect the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to. Knowing your legal rights and responsibilities will help you with this.