SECURING WORKERS’ COMP BENEFITS - 5 IMPORTANT

THINGS TO DO IN CASE OF WORKPLACE INJURY

BY

THE CARDAMONE LAW FIRM, LLC

• WORKPLACE INJURIES ARE A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN SOME INDUSTRIES SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURING AND ELECTRICAL WHERE LABORERS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK NEAR HAZARDOUS MACHINERY, ENERGIZED EQUIPMENT OR IN RISKY ENVIRONMENTS THAT REQUIRE ESSENTIAL WORK SAFETY GEAR, ETC. IN MOST STATES, WORKERS RECEIVE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FROM EMPLOYERS FOR ANY INJURY CAUSED AT THE JOB.

• IN CASE YOU GET A WORK RELATED INJURY, IT’S ESSENTIAL FOR YOU TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS. THESE WILL ENABLE YOU TO GET THE BEST WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BENEFITS FROM YOUR EMPLOYER.

REPORT THE INJURY

• THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED TO DO IS TO REPORT THE INJURY TO YOUR EMPLOYER ON AN IMMEDIATE BASIS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU INFORM YOUR EMPLOYER ABOUT IT IN BLACK AND WHITE AS IT CAN COME IN GOOD USE IN LATER STAGES. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT DEEMED NECESSARY TO SEND A WRITTEN NOTICE. FILL OUT THE COMPENSATION FORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. USUALLY, MOST EMPLOYERS GIVE A REPORTING TIME LIMIT OF 90 TO 120 STARTING FROM THE DAY OF THE INJURY.

GO SEE AN AUTHORIZED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER

• GO SEE A DOCTOR OR PHYSICIAN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MAKE SURE TO SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ONLY FROM THOSE WHO ARE ON THE PANEL WITH YOUR EMPLOYER. THE BEST IS TO VISIT THE PANEL PHYSICIAN ONLY FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF TREATMENT. THIS WILL HELP YOU RECEIVE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BENEFITS FASTER, AS THE DOCTORS ON THE PANEL ARE MORE TRUSTWORTHY AND THE PAPERWORK PROCESS IS DECREASED. YOU MAY CHOOSE TO VISIT ANY OTHER PHYSICIAN AFTER THREE MONTHS OF INITIAL TREATMENT FROM THE EMPLOYER PANEL.

KEEP YOUR EMPLOYER INFORMED

• WHEN YOU’VE FILED A CLAIM FOR WORKMAN COMP, IT’S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KEEP YOUR EMPLOYER AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMED ABOUT YOUR TREATMENT EACH STEP OF THE WAY – THIS INCLUDES YOUR DOCTOR’S NAME, YOUR TREATMENT ETC. THIS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT THE EMPLOYER DOESN’T GET A CHANCE TO GET AWAY FROM PAYING BENEFITS AND REFUSING YOU YOUR RIGHTFUL COMPENSATION. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP A RECORD OF ALL THE BILLS RELATED TO THE INJURY TREATMENT WITH YOU IN ONE PLACE AS PROOF.

COOPERATE WITH THE EMPLOYER AND INSURANCE COMPANY

• IF YOU WANT TO GET COMPENSATED WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE, THEN IT’S SMART TO COOPERATE WITH THE INSURANCE ADMINISTRATOR AND EMPLOYER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY MAY REQUIRE INFORMATION RELATED TO YOUR INJURY AND MAY ASK YOU DETAILED QUESTIONS. A WORKERS COMPENSATION ATTORNEY CAN WORK AS AN INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN THE CLAIMANT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO HELP WITH SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS. YOUR COOPERATION WILL HELP YOU AND THE OTHER PARTY TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS. OTHERWISE YOUR RESISTANCE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN REFUSAL TO PAY COMPENSATION AS THIS CAN ANNOY OR AGITATE THE OTHER PARTY.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT

• ONCE YOUR EMPLOYER HAS DECIDED TO ROLL OUT THE COMPENSATION TO YOU, IT IS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THE NEXT THING. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN TO WORK IN THE SAME POSITION, DEPENDING ON THE INJURY. ALSO, YOUR EMPLOYER IS NOT LIABLE TO KEEP YOU AT THE SAME JOB, DEPENDING ON YOUR HEALTH AND JOB REQUIREMENTS. IN SUCH CASES, IT IS SMART TO CONSIDER OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO WORK, EVEN IF IT IS ON A LOWER PAY SCALE.

WORK INJURY LAWYER IN PHILADELPHIA, PA

• ADDRESSES: 920 LENMAR DRIVE BLUE BELL, PA 19422

716 EAST PASSYUNK AVE PHILADELPHIA, PA 19148

600 EAGLEVIEW BLVD SUITE 300 EXTON, PA 19341

• WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.MYPHILLYWORKERSCOMP.COM

• TELEPHONE: (877) 560-7090