Workers Compensation

WORKERS COMPENSATION

You are injured at work, what now?   After you tell your supervisor or boss that you were injured on the job, you need to learn what workers’ compensation can and cannot do for you.  The notice of injury must be given usually within 30 days of the date of accident.  The first time I meet with a new client, I explain the lost wages and medical benefits they will receive and how to get what they are entitled to.  Workers’ compensation has its own language – MMI, average weekly wage, comp rate, and on and on.  My clients know what they should be receiving from the workers’ compensation carriers and when.  We are always ready to answer any client questions or take the employer and carrier to court, if necessary.  We return phone calls the day of your call or at least within 24 hours. 

Never settle your case without talking to a workers’ comp attorney.  There is no charge to discuss your case and the insurance company pays my fees if we settle.  Being injured is bad enough in and of itself.  Don’t go through it alone, and have a bad experience getting your benefits when you need medical care and income.

This firm must be doing something right if we are still representing injured workers after over 40 years of services to North West Florida injured employees.  We work for our clients like we would want a law office to work for us if we had legal issues. 

There is no question that WC injured employees have their cases denied most frequently when their Accident and Injury is not immediately reported to a manager or supervisor. Remember the following:

1. You have 30 days to report being hurt on the job but delaying the notice to a SUPERVISOR increases the chances your case will be denied by the WC insurance company.
   
2. Even if you think the injury will get better or is minor, tell your supervisor about being hurt and that it happened at work. Even if you do not immediately need medical care, you have protected yourself, if you need to see a doctor later or miss work because of the injury.
   
3. Saying you are hurt is not enough. Give notice that the injury happened while you were working. Be sure you are accurate, complete  and consistent in describing how you were hurt.
   
4. If you need medical care, ask your supervisor where you should go and ask to be allowed to go to the medical facility you are told to go to.
   
5. I understand the fear employees have that reporting an on the job injury may affect the future of their job.. Paying for medical care, using health insurance or sick leave will not help you receive lost wages or medical care from the WC carrier, if you have to reduce your hours or miss work. The worst scenario is to not report an injury right away, get worse and then report it days or weeks later. You are asking for a denial of benefits and having to file a WC claim and see the Judge.
   
6. An employer policy to fill out an incident report within a certain period of time, will not stop you from getting WC benefits, if you do the above. However, some middle management believes it does. It is best to follow the employer’s policy after an injury. Know what that policy requires you to do.
   
7. Keep notes of events , written correspondence and conversations with your employer, or the insurance adjuster , if you are hurt.

Stay SAFE at work and remember to protect your rights to wages and medical care, if you are hurt.