When you have become injured at work, most people know they need to get treatment from a doctor and file a workers compensation claim while they are recovering. This can help when they need financial assistance with medical bills and when they are required to take time off of work. Things can change when a person is unable to return to work anytime soon because of a long-term disability, though. What happens when your injury lingers or your doctor says that you have a permanent injury from an accident at work? This can be a difficult situation and you may be wondering what you should do next.
What’s the first step you should take?
When your doctor says you may not be able to return to work or you have a limited ability to work, what should you do? One of the first things you should do is seek help from a local attorney, like a workers’ comp attorney from a law firm like Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. Getting workers’ compensation benefits can suddenly become much more complicated when you are suffering from a long-term disability. An attorney will know how to file your workers’ compensation claim and will understand what kind of evidence you will need when trying to prove long-term disability.
How do I become eligible?
Workers’ compensation is great in that you are not required to prove someone else was neglectful when you became injured. However, there are additional steps required when showing long-term disability needs.
- You must explain that you were injured while performing job-related tasks.
- Your injuries are not just temporary but they are long-term or permanent.
- The injuries have caused a disability that leaves you unable to perform your regular work duties or to be unable to work at all.
Your lawyer will need to make the distinction that you are not able to recover from your injury fully. Different states will have different types of ratings for an injury and how much workers’ compensation they will receive. It is important to have a medical professional who has examined you provide medical records regarding your injuries, your treatment plan, and what kind of work you may be able to accomplish in the future.
Because of how complicated workers’ compensation claims can get when you are dealing with a disability, working with an attorney is extremely important. You want to ensure you are taken care of financially, especially if you are unable to return to work. Seek help from a local attorney you can rely on during this difficult time.
