Suffering an injury on the job is a nightmare in many ways. In addition to the physical pain of your injury, you must deal with the financial stress of lost income and mounting medical bills. This is understandably a lot to process, but luckily, there are resources in place to make your recovery easier and speedier than it might otherwise be. One of these resources is workers’ comp, but there are many misconceptions.
Whether your injury was the result of an accident or gradual strain, you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim and seek coverage for your medical bills as well as your time spent recovering. The following are some of the most common misconceptions about workers’ compensation claims.
It does not cover medical expenses
You may be hesitant to seek medical care following an injury for fear of the bills that will follow. Even if you intend to file for workers’ comp, you might believe that it will not cover your medical expenses. An approved claim, however, will cover the costs of your health care following your injury. It is vital that you seek treatment as soon as possible so your injury does not worsen at all.
Workers’ comp is a lawsuit
Many people mistakenly believe that filing a workers’ comp claim is the same thing as filing a lawsuit. On the contrary, filing a claim does not necessitate any legal action, and you will not need to pursue further litigation unless there is a denial of the claim. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, however, close to 40 percent of claims do not receive approval – so having a legal representative ready is wise.
You can handle a claim on your own
Even the savviest of people cannot rival the expertise of an attorney dedicated to handling workers’ comp claims. Enlisting help from a lawyer can help you avoid costly mistakes and improve the chances of getting your claim approved on the first try. Do not try to handle your case on your own, especially when you are recovering from an injury.
