Our Fort Lauderdale injury lawyers have met with hundreds of workers compensation clients who put their benefits at risk because they weren’t sure what to do in the moments after their workplace accident. Some of our clients forgot to report the injury right away. Others refused medical treatment because they insisted they were okay only to find out days later that they were hurt. Just as you need to do with a car accident, there are certain things you must do following your workplace accident. If you follow these steps, there’s a good chance that your claim will be approved. If, however, you miss one or more of these steps, you jeopardize having your claim be denied.
Our Florida workers comp attorneys understand that every case is different. The facts of your case are not going to match the facts of a coworker’s case. What’s important is that you follow your company’s workplace accident policy. You also need to protect your health. Therefore, we suggest the first thing anybody should do after suffering a workplace accident is go to the hospital. Whether you think you’re injured or not, you need to be checked out by a licensed doctor and have them run the necessary diagnostic tests. Once you receive the medical treatment you need, you can proceed with your workers’ compensation claim. At some point during these first few days, it’s a good idea to at least meet with a Florida workers comp attorney. The sooner they get involved, the better your chances are of having your claim approved.
The First Thing You Need to Do is Seek Medical Treatment
Aside from any paperwork or legal action you need to take, the first thing you need to do after your workplace accident is seek medical attention. Even if you don’t think you’re injured, you need to get checked out. You could be suffering from an internal injury such as a traumatic brain injury or a concussion. You could have internal bleeding or something else going on that could be life threatening if it’s not treated right away.
The other reason you want to go to the hospital is because you need documentation of your injuries. Your Fort Lauderdale injury lawyer is going to need to show that the injuries you suffered were directly caused by your job. The best way to do that is by looking at your medical records. If days or weeks go by between the time of your accident and the time you see a doctor, it will be very hard for your Florida workers comp lawyer to prove that your injuries were caused by your workplace accident.
You Must Report Your Workplace Accident to Your Manager or Human Resources
If you can physically do so before going out for treatment, make sure you report your workplace accident to either your manager or the human resources department. Even if your company does not require you to report the accident within a certain time frame, Florida law does. If you have to go out for medical care right away, then make sure a manager comes with you so you can report your injuries. If this is impossible, make sure you report your workplace accident as soon as humanly possible after you return from the hospital.
Typically, employees have 30 days to report their workplace accident to their employer. However, in order for your Florida workers comp lawyer to help you, you’re better off reporting the accident right away. There’s really no good reason to delay reporting your workplace injuries. In the past, most of the time we’ve seen this done is when an employee was under the influence of drugs at the time of their accident and were hoping that the wash out of their system. While we understand the reasoning behind this, you want to make sure that it doesn’t jeopardize your workers’ compensation claim entirely.
Let your Florida Workers Comp Attorney Know if Your Claim is Denied
After you submit your workers’ compensation claim, you should know in about 7 to 10 days whether it’s been approved. If it is approved, you’ll start to receive your weekly benefits within another week. Your medical treatment will also continue to be covered. However, if your claim is denied, no further medical treatment will be covered, and you will not be receiving weekly replacement wages. This is when it’s critically important that you talk to a Fort Lauderdale injury lawyer right away.
You Need to Focus on Recovering – Let Your Ft. Lauderdale Injury Lawyer Handle the Legal Side of Things
If you have suffered a workplace injury, you know how difficult it can be to focus on anything else. All you want to do is get the medical treatment you need so you can get back to your normal life. Unfortunately, it’s not always so simple. If your injuries were received on the job, then there’s a good chance you’ll be entitled to workers compensation benefits. To collect these benefits, you must meet certain criteria. This means that there are certain things you need to do in the moments following your workplace accident. If you fail to follow these steps, there is a chance that your claim could be denied. Rather than risk this happening, we suggest that you contact a Fort Lauderdale injury lawyer within a day or so of your workplace accident.
The earlier you get your Florida workers compensation attorney involved, the better your chances of having your claim approved. When your employer and their insurance carrier see that you’ve hired an attorney, they will take your workplace accident case much more seriously. They won’t try to take advantage of you or force you to return to work sooner than you’re ready. They will also make sure you get the medical care you need. To make this happen, you should contact our office and schedule your free, initial consultation today. We will do whatever we can to make sure you get the benefits you deserve. While we focus on the legal side of things, you can focus on what’s important- getting better.
