
Protecting your future after a work related injury can be a difficult aspect of recovery if you don’t know what your rights are. Moreover, you also need to understand your responsibilities so that you can act by the laws. Your state will have its set of laws that you have to abide by. Despite this, there are some basics that you should follow, including making sure that the first accident is well documented and that you have put the right paperwork in motion.
Tyler Jonas with Hinden Law advises, “The first thing you should do is report your injury and go through the process of your company. Be careful what you say as to not disqualify yourself. At the end of the work day, consult with a Lawyer to make sure you are protected as you continue on your journey.”
Err on the side of caution when it comes to protecting your rights. You will be sent to a physician that has been approved by the insurance company that oversees the work related injuries of your company. Make sure that you see this physician. You do have the right to request a new doctor if you feel that you are not being treated well.
It’s always advisable to talk with a lawyer that specializes in worker’s compensation laws in your area. You may not need direct representation but being aware of what rights and what responsibilities you have can make a huge difference in the long run. When it comes to getting care for injuries at work, things are not always fair. Having representation can help ensure that you are treated fairly.
The instructions that you are provided by the physician must be followed. Of course, what are you supposed to do when you’ve been cleared to return to work, but your body isn’t cooperating. This is one of the main reasons that you are likely to require legal advice along the way. Depending on the laws of your state, you might have more options than you think. Acting in your best interest while violating the law can result in suspension or termination of your care.
The greatest difficulties that most people face have everything to do with proving that they are injured. There have been enough incidents of fraud that the burden of proof lays heavily on the injured party. Of course, since you may not have the funds available to hire your physician to counteract claims that you can return to work, you may have to go through legal channels to make sure you are not exacerbating the injury.
If it’s possible for you to get healthy and return to work, then this is the ultimate goal. Naturally, when your body or your primary care physician doesn’t seem to have the goal of health in mind for you, the situation can become quite complicated. Not everyone will completely recover from their injuries. Moving forward with insurance settlements and other compensation can take a very long time.
If you can’t get healthy, the process is long, and you will need solid representation. Your lawyer will have to be there to thwart the efforts of the insurance company to bully you back to a job that you can’t do anymore.
As time goes by you’d be surprised how much your rights and those of the insurance company can change. There can be all kinds of little hiccups along the way. Recovering from a work-related injury isn’t just about financial compensation and medical care. It’s about making sure that you are respected and treated well along the way so that you can focus on your health. A good lawyer is certainly the difference between a bad experience and a better experience.