Follow these tips to help you get your workers’ compensation claim paid.
Sometimes it is taken for granted that insurance companies are in business to make a profit. This fact should explain why insurers often try to keep amounts paid in claims down, possibly leading to denial of benefits. However, injured workers are supposed to be paid workers’ compensation benefits until they fully recover. Here are some useful tips from an experienced Kansas City Missouri workers’ compensation lawyer that may help you get your claim paid without any issues with your employer’s insurance company.
Report the Injury and Complete the Necessary Forms
It is important that you report any work-related injury within the stipulated time. You stand the risk of having your claim denied if you fail to report your injury in a timely manner. It is also important to get accident report forms from your employer and accurately fill them out.
Note Details of Witnesses
Witnesses may be important in some cases to prove that an injury was truly sustained on the job. It will be to your advantage to take down the names of people who witnessed your accident.
Seek Medical Treatment
If you are serious about filing a workers’ compensation claim, you should immediately seek medical attention after suffering a work-related injury. Failure to do this could lead to your employer’s insurance company arguing that your injury was not that serious to justify a claim.
Clearly Explain How the Accident Occurred
You should ensure that you describe how your accident occurred at length and have it reflected in your medical records. Since these records are usually prepared by healthcare providers, you need to make sure they have the right information. Failure to appropriately describe your accident and injury could give the insurer a reason to deny your claim.
Keep Up with Medical Appointments
Seeking treatment in a hospital is not enough. It is important that you always keep your medical appointments. Your employer’s insurance company could be given a reason to deny you your benefits, if you have formed the habit of regularly missing medical appointment.
Give No Recorded Statement To the Insurer
You should not make the mistake of giving a tape-recorded statement to an insurer, especially if you are not already working with an experienced Kansas City Missouri workers’ compensation attorney. This may be requested by an insurance company for you to give a description of your injury and what led to it. Such an action may actually do you more harm than good.
Agree to Only a Limited Medical Authorization
You may be asked by the insurer to sign an authorization to enable them to access your medical records. It is important to ensure that such authorization is limited to only the records that are connected to your work-related injury.
Consistency Is Vital
Make sure that you maintain consistency in whatever you tell your employer and doctor about how you sustained the injury. Inconsistency could make it easier for your claim to be denied by the insurer.
Consult an Attorney
The services of a competent Kansas City Missouri workers’ compensation attorney will be very important, especially if you are finding it hard to file your benefits.
Call The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann at (816) 399-3706.
Photo credit: milanite via Flickr
