Hauppauge NY Workers Comp Lawyer
Being injured while at work can create unnecessary turmoil in your life, as any Hauppauge, NY Workers Comp Lawyer at Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. knows. Workers compensation was put into place to help employees maintain a financial security in the event of injury. However, in some cases, you may not be receiving the compensation you believe you deserve. At our firm, we are dedicated to helping our clients obtain the compensation they deserve so that they may focus on getting healthy once again.
Those who have been involved in an accident at work, may be overwhelmed at what to do next. The first thing that any injured worker must do is protect themselves so they can get the care they need to recover. Unfortunately, injured workers may commit a mistake that negatively impacts their claim without even realizing it.
After a Work-Related Accident
If you have been injured while at work or acquire an injury due to work related matters, there are a few steps a Hauppauge, New York Workers Comp Lawyer suggests taking after the incident:
- Get Medical Help: If necessary you should obtain first aid or other medical assistance as quickly as possible. Employers must allow injured employees to seek medical care after an accident. If your employer failed to do this, you’ll want to speak with a Hauppauge workers comp lawyer immediately.
2. File an Accident Report: In most states there is a short window of time in which your accident report must be submitted in order to get compensation. No matter what the incident was, a member of our team would likely suggest that you file an accident report. Even if you are not injured right away, that first accident could have caused an injury that takes a while to appear. In addition, filing an incident report could allow for your management to implement safety measures in order to prevent an injury from happening to another individual in the future.
3. See a Doctor: In some cases, the company will select a doctor that you should see. When you are meeting with this doctor it is important you share every detail of the accident that you can. In some cases, you may not feel as though the company doctor is offering the proper care. If this occurs, you should speak with us so we can provide about your legal rights for fair treatment and proper care.
After seeing a doctor, you should make copies of all paperwork and have the doctor write and sign anything that may seem important. For example, you may want to write out a detailed description about your treatment plan and have the doctor sign it. Or, if the doctor says you shouldn’t do a specific task at work, you should obtain their signature for this document as well. Lastly, make sure you follow all directions that the doctor provides. If you do not, then your employer may argue that you didn’t choose to get proper help.
4. Follow up with your Employer: You should contact your employer to make sure that they have filed a workers’ compensation form and sent in the proper documents. After this, you will have to wait to see what coverage and benefits you may be eligible to receive. If you have any trouble with this final step, it may be a wise decision to contact a Hauppauge Workers Comp Lawyer in New York.
Visiting a Doctor Right After the Accident
Injured employees should seek medical care promptly, and continue to do so until they are better. Many employees may wait to see if their injuries heal on their own. In most cases the injuries will require some degree of medical attention. By delaying treatment, this can impact how much you receive under workers’ compensation benefits.
Seeing Your Own Doctor for an Assessment
Depending on your state, you may have to see the work-assigned doctor first and only then can you see your personal physician for a second opinion. A potential drawback to seeing the doctor your employer chose is that he or she could be biased to making medical decisions that ultimately save your employer money. During the appointment, be sure to inform the doctor about all of your symptoms, regardless of if you think they are relevant at the time. If you keep some symptoms to yourself, they may not be covered later on after pursuing workers’ compensation benefits.
The Influence of Witness Testimony
Yes, the more testimonies you have by witnesses, the stronger your claim can be in seeking workers’ compensation benefits. Don’t be afraid to ask coworkers for their statement of what happened, if they saw the accident occur with their own eyes.
Filing Your Claim Quickly
There is usually a time limit for how soon a workers has to come forward and file a workers’ compensation claim. Depending on the state, this time-frame varies. But in general, the employee has 30 days to file or otherwise their claim will be void.
Write Down Your Symptoms
Keep a journal of your symptoms, doctor recommendations, diagnosis, treatment plans, how long you had to be away from work for recovery, etc. By doing so, you are keeping all important details in one place. Additionally, this information can be used as evidence if you take the matter to trial with a NY Workers Comp Lawyer located in Hauppauge. Keep copies of your out-of-pocket expenses, insurance bills, costs for prescriptions, doctor assessments, and any other related documents.
When the Injury Happened Somewhere Else
If your injury did not happen at work, then there is a strong chance your claim will be denied — unless you were traveling for work and were performing a job task somewhere else. For instance, you could be a traveling salesman who was meeting with a client in another city when the injury accident occurred.
Meet With a Member of Our Legal Team
Even if you followed all of the proper steps, your company’s insurance provider might not have your best interest in mind. Call Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. today at (516) 594-0909 for a free consultation with a Hauppauge, New York Workers Comp Lawyer.
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