|
|
What should I do if I've been injured on the job?
- First, get the medical attention you need. This is true whether you've experienced an injury or a sudden medical problem or you've become aware of a medical condition that has had a more gradual onset.
- Notify your employer as soon as you are physically able, but it is critical to notify the employer within 45 days or you may forfeit your right to workers' compensation benefits. You may give notice verbally or in writing, but make sure notice is directed to someone in management, not just to a coworker.
- In the case of a sudden injury that occurred on the job, it's important to document everything you can about the mishap, including the facts surrounding the accident, your medical treatment, lost time, etc. In the case of a gradual-onset condition or illness - such as one related to chemical exposure - an even greater level of record keeping is required because you may have good days and bad days, and an exact diagnosis and date of onset may not be clear until later.
- Compile the names and contact information of potential witnesses.
- Become compulsive about saving any bills or statements from medical providers.
- Show that you are cooperating with doctors and making an effort to recover and make a full return to work, if a return to work is possible. You may lose benefits for failing to cooperate in your medical care or for other injurious activities.
- Tell your medical providers that the treatment is for a work-related condition. This lets the doctors know that the workers' compensation carrier is responsible for the medical bills and triggers the use of the state-approved payment schedule. It also lets them know not to send bills to you.
- Although you shouldn't provide the insurance company access to your doctor or to your unrelated medical records, it's in your best interest to keep an ongoing flow of information regarding your treatment to the insurance company. The insurance company will need to determine whether to accept or reject proposed medical treatment or medical bills you've submitted.
- Make sure to obtain a disability slip from your doctor at each visit if your doctor is keeping you off work or has given you light-duty restrictions. Make sure to provide a copy of the disability slip to the insurance company right away to ensure that TTD benefits are not discontinued.
- Do not participate in activities your doctor has restricted you from, and use your common sense. The insurance companies often hire investigators to follow and videotape injured employees in an attempt to prove that the injuries are not as serious as they may appear to be in the medical records or from the employee's complaints.
- Retain an experienced workers' compensation attorney to protect your rights and maximize the benefits you are entitled to under the Act.
If you or a member of your family has been injured in a work-related accident, we can help. Contact the experienced workers' compensation attorneys at Drake & Collopy, P.C. online or call us at 312.345.0220, or toll free at 1.888.372.5355, for more information or to schedule a free consultation.
|
|
