An injured employee’s worst nightmare is their workers’ compensation claim will be denied. A workplace accident means missed work, medical bills, and a potentially life-changing injury. Receiving workers’ compensation for such an injury is essential for employees to continue feeding their families and providing housing for themselves and their loved ones while they recover from the injury.
What to Do to Ensure You Receive the Compensation You Deserve
Unfortunately, the companies who provide workers' compensation policies for employers have a strong incentive to deny claims whenever possible. An injured worker should always seek legal advice from a workers’ compensation attorney before filing their claim. Such an attorney can help the injured employee take all the necessary steps to ensure success for the worker. Some of the steps a lawyer will likely encourage an injured worker do include:
- Report your injury to your employer immediately.
- Get prompt medical treatment at a qualified, reputable medical center.
- Consider getting a second opinion from another doctor to determine the true severity of the injury.
- Read up on the workers’ compensation laws for the state where you reside. Study the clauses of the laws that identify what injured workers are entitled to.
- Prepare for an independent medical examination your employer’s insurance company will likely require.
- Be aware that your employer’s insurance company may hire a private investigator or surveillance team to follow you to question whether your injury was not as severe as you say it is.
- Keep detailed medical and work records. Write down every interaction with your employer, their insurance company, and any doctors or medical specialists you see or speak to. When other parties make statements or promises to you, get them in writing.
- Understand you can appeal a denial of workers’ comp benefits, and a workers’ compensation attorney can assist you in crafting such an appeal.
- Attend all scheduled legal proceedings, appointments, and medical examinations.
- Most importantly, retain a workers’ compensation lawyer who will advocate on your behalf to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Seek Expert Workers’ Comp Help from NRS Injury Law
NRS Injury Law is the largest workers’ compensation law firm in Ohio. With over 30 attorneys, 100 staff, and ten trial attorneys, NRS leverages more than 300 years of combined legal experience to navigate even the most complex and nuanced of workers’ compensation cases. Further, the NRS Injury Law team handles more than 10,000 hearings before the Ohio Industrial Commission each year and has won high-profile workers' compensation cases before the Ohio Supreme Court.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a workplace accident, contact NRS Injury Law today. Call our direct line at 855.468.4878 or fill out our online contact form.
