The state of California has approved hundreds of millions of dollars in workers’ comp payments. Thousands of cases are filed every year, though, and summarily denied. Many people who have suffered workplace injuries are left wondering what must be done in order to get the compensation they are due. There is no winning formula, but there are several things you should be aware of if you are planning on filing for workers’ comp. The following three tips may make the process easier if you follow them.
Getting care from the right doctor matters
Upon reporting an injury, too many people trust their employer to choose a doctor and orchestrate their medical care. While you might be pleased that your company appear to be assisting, this can be a bad idea for many reasons. A physician who receives a referral from your employer will likely have their best interests in mind rather than yours. This can be a substantial conflict of interest at best, and at worst, it can become an obstacle to receiving the care you actually need. It is better to see a doctor who truly cares about your recovery and has no ulterior motives.
Seeing a doctor sooner rather than later is important
In addition to who you see, when you see them is one of the most essential things to take into consideration. The longer you wait, the less likely it is that your claims will be taken seriously. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible is also important to ensuring that you receive the proper care and treatment. If you have a sprain, laceration or broken bone, for example, getting treatment as soon as possible will ensure that it heals properly and you make a full recovery.
You should never be sent back to work too soon
The two aforementioned tips are important because they can prevent you from being sent back to work too soon. Doctors who are hired by your company may want you to get back to work shortly after an injury, and if you wait too long to seek treatment, it may prolong the time you spend away from work. When you begin working again too soon, you may put your workers’ comp claim at risk and prohibit your injury from every properly healing.
There are many different factors that affect a workers’ comp claim. An attorney can help you demystify the process and fight for care after suffering a workplace injury.