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Once you’ve gotten injured at work, it’s important to notify your employer as soon as you can—typically, this should happen in under 45 days. After you notify your employer, it can be helpful to look for legal help to start getting your workers compensation case going. Hiring a lawyer can be the difference between getting compensated for your injury and not getting compensation, so it’s important to act quickly. Contact the skilled attorneys at Vasilatos Injury Law today to get your claims process started.
Common Workplace Injuries
When you get hurt at work, one of the most confusing parts is wondering whether your injury will be covered under workers’ compensation. One way to help determine if it will be is to learn about common workplace injuries and compare your situation to them. It may surprise you to learn what is actually covered.
Some of the most common workplace injuries include:
- Repetitive motion: These injuries are caused by repeating the same movement over and over again.
- Struck against an object: Injuries that involve objects like windows, doors, or walls.
- Caught in/compressed by: Usually involving heavy machinery, these injuries often take place in factories.
- Fall to a lower level: Falling off a ladder, off a roof, or down stairs.
- Workplace assault: When one or more workers is assaulted on the job.
- Overexertion: Perhaps the most common work injuries, these involve pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, throwing, and holding.
- Slips and falls: When an injury is caused by slipping and falling on uneven, slippery ground or uncleared ground during winter.
- Traffic incidents: Injuries that happen while using a company vehicle.
- Struck by an object: When a falling or dropped object injures a worker.
What to Know About Workers’ Compensation Cases
When you’re working on getting together your worker’s compensation case, there are a few things you’ll want to be aware of. First, you’ll want to find out what the statute of limitations is for your injury. You’ll also want to know about the different types of compensation, so that you know which one you should fight for. The types of compensation can include permanent injury, medical bill reimbursement, and lost wages. If you’re unsure of which one you will want to work toward, hiring a workers’ compensation attorney can be a great help.
The Claims Filing Process
Filing a claim can be frustrating, but when you work with an attorney, it can be far less complicated.
First, you will need to notify your employer of the injury. If you seek medical attention, be sure to let the doctors and staff know that it is a work related injury, as you may be required to see specific doctors or visit specific facilities.
Next, the insurance carrier will open a benefits claim after receiving reports from you or your employer. The claim will be reviewed and it will be determined whether it’s compensable. If it is, the carrier will contact the injured person and the employer, and discuss what the rate of pay or benefits will be. If the claim is rejected/denied, the injured person will have the opportunity to appeal that decision.
