If you have been injured at work, you likely have the right to receive workers’ compensation benefits for as long as you are unable to perform your job duties. To make sure your claim is accepted the first time around, there are a few general rules of thumb to follow:
- Report your injury as soon as you can. Workers’ compensation laws require you to inform your superiors of any work-related injuries within a relatively short time period – often 30 days or less.
- Collect witnesses. Get the names and contact information of anyone who saw your accident happen. Witnesses could be valuable to prove that you were actually injured while on the job, and not due to some other reason.
- Get medical attention. Make an appointment with your doctor right away. Insurance companies are likely to assume you are not actually hurt if you did not seek medical attention. Attend all scheduled appointments and get copies of your medical records to assist in your workers’ compensation claim.
- Be thorough with your accident report. Fill out all reports correctly and with as much information as possible, leaving out no details.
- Be consistent. If your story has any inconsistencies, insurers will be more likely to deny your claim. All of your statements should line up and be completely accurate.
- Never provide tape-recorded statements. Sometimes insurers will ask that you provide them with a recorded statement that describes the nature of your injuries and how you suffered them. Never offer such a statement, as it probably will not help you in any way.
An experienced New York workers’ compensation lawyer with Rubenstein & Rynecki will help you through the sometimes challenging claims process after a workplace accident. Call us today at (718) 522-1020 or contact us online.
