The 5 Biggest Mistakes To Avoid If You’ve Been Injured On The Job
It can happen in an instant. You can be working hard, taking every precaution you are supposed to, yet you can still be injured on the job. When this happens, it is important to be prepared for what actions you should take, and what actions you should avoid, immediately following the injury. Knowing the common mistakes people make after an on the job injury will provide you with a significant advantage over others who are unprepared.
Here are five common mistakes we have found others making, and we believe are well worth avoiding:
- Not Reporting the Injury to Your Employer
Too often employees are embarrassed, afraid, or simply think it unnecessary to report an injury. However, you should never feel this way; your employer should always take a reported injury very seriously. If you fail to report the accident and injury, you greatly diminish your chances of recovering compensation. As such, it is extremely important to report your injury in writing within thirty (30) days. Be sure to include the date, time, and place of the accident and injury. Additionally, document as thoroughly as possible the injuries you sustained.
- Failing to Complete and Submit All the Necessary Paperwork
After an injury, one of the last things you will want to deal with is paperwork. Yet, the daunting paperwork required after an on the job injury is critical to your claim. Thus, it is necessary to complete and file this paperwork in its entirety. Any incomplete claim can be denied, so it is better to go above and beyond the minimum requirements when filling out these documents.
- Failure to Immediately Obtain a Medical Evaluation and Medical Treatment
After you have been injured, you may think all you need is some rest and time to recover. However, it is critical for both your health and any claim you may have that you get an immediate proper medical evaluation and that you receive proper medical treatment for your injury.
- Failing to Properly Get Your Medical Bills Covered and/or Failing to Collect Medical Benefits
Missouri labor laws require your employer to pay all your medical bills related to your work injuries. So you should not receive a bill for your treatment, and if you do, you should contact your employer and your insurance company right away. Additionally, you may be entitled to medical benefits, along with lost wages and disability benefits, though you may have to pursue these – the right attorney can assist you in this recovery process.
- Failing to Obtain a Consultation with an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Consulting with the right attorney is crucial to ensure that your injuries are not minimized, and that your interests are protected. When you are injured, you have many things to consider, but finding the right attorney will help you organize and manage the numerous issues that you will be forced to deal with, making sure that you recover all the benefits you are entitled to receive.
At Hollingshead, Paulus, and Eccher, we work to make sure that both your immediate and longterm needs are properly considered and managed. We have the knowledge, experience, and skills needed to make sure you are completely compensated for you losses, and that your financial interests are protected. If you have been injured on the job, do not hesitate to call us today. We are here to help.
