Three Questions About Workers Compensation For Injured Employees
Were you injured while performing your job, but not sure what to do about the costs associated with your injuries? That's where workers compensation comes into play. Here are some questions you're likely to have about your workplace injury.
What Is A Workers Compensation Claim?
Workers compensation claims are brought against your employer because your standard of care was breached while on the job, which resulted in your injury. There is a procedure that must be followed to ensure that your claim is processed properly since you are dealing with your employer's workers compensation provider rather than your personal health insurance. If your employer is found to be responsible for the injury, they will take care of all your medical costs associated with it.
Do Workers Compensation Claims Require A Lawyer?
Many people assume that a workers compensation claim is very straightforward since you're using your employer's insurance. However, there are a lot of nuances to these types of claims that you may not be aware of. Part of the process is proving that the injury was your employer's responsibility, and your claim may be denied by the insurer and you need to go through the appeals process if this happens. You may also have to settle the injury at some point, which means predicting all of your future medical care that you are entitled to compensation for. Having a lawyer on your side will ensure that they are fighting for you so that you receive what you deserve.
In addition to your direct medical costs, there may also be indirect costs that you need to negotiate. This includes the time that you were not paid by your employer while you were recovering from your injury. If you suffered a permanent injury, there is a cost associated with that as well. It's possible that you won't request the right amount of compensation when handling the claim on your own.
What Do You Do About Your Immediate Medical Expenses?
There will likely be initial expenses that are related to the injury right after it happened, which is from you visiting the emergency room or seeing your own doctor. When these bills come in they will need to be paid for, and the bill is going to come in your name. Know that these bills will be included in your workers compensation claim since they are ultimately the responsibility of your employer.
Working with a lawyer will ensure that you're following the rules regarding expenses from seeing your own doctor. For example, each state has its own laws regarding the initial time period when medical treatments from your own doctor will be covered by workers compensation. Contact a firm like Hoffman Legal Group, LLC in your area to discuss your case.
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