Most work-related injuries are simple to handle. Most of the time, the injured worker does not miss time from work, or only misses the time needed for a trip to the emergency room. The worker gets injured, gets treatment, and returns to work. In those easy cases, there is no need to hire a lawyer. However, in some cases, the best course of action for the injured worker is to hire the best lawyer they can find because either the employer or insurance company is not treating them fairly. Some cases are more complicated, and the employee is seriously injured and will be off work for a long time. If this happens to you, the smartest decision is to not try to handle the case on your own but to hire a skilled lawyer experienced in Workers’ Compensation to help prove your injuries are work related.
Two Main Issues: The Facts of the Accident and the Medical Opinions
There are two main issues in any Workers’ Compensation case: first, what are the facts of the case; second, what do the medical professionals have to say about the nature of the injury.
What are the facts of the case? The facts of the incident are very important. With some cases, it is going to be obvious that the injury happened at work, especially if there are many witnesses. Therefore, having a witness is a big step in proving that the incident occurred at work. Another issue regarding the facts of the case is reporting the incident to your supervisor as soon as it happens. If you wait for days to report it because you did not think the injury was a big deal, it is harder to prove that it happened to work. In many instances, employees are pressured not to report work injuries because of offered quarterly bonuses, for example, tied to the reporting of no injuries. The smart thing to do is to make sure to report the injury, especially if you need medical treatment. Make sure your supervisor or human resources person fills out the proper injury report forms and that those forms are submitted to the Workers’ Compensation insurance company.
What do the doctors say? Not only do you need witnesses or some way to prove the injury happened while at work, but also you need a medical doctor to support the injury. It is important that you see a doctor as soon after a work injury as possible. The doctor must give a medical opinion on the injury and give an opinion as to the cause. Usually, this is accomplished in the normal way doctors examine patients: get a history from the employee and provide a diagnosis for the injury. Also, the doctor will give a note to take the employee off work, if necessary. Without a doctor’s opinion on these issues, it is going to be hard to prove your Workers’ Compensation claim.
Media Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at the Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello Can Help Win the Benefits Owed to You
If you have been injured at work and are having problems with your Workers’ Compensation claim, you do not have to rely on what the insurance adjuster and employer are telling you. Reach out to the Media Workers’ Compensation lawyers at the Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello to give you real, honest advice on your claim. Learn more at a free consultation by filling out an online registration form or calling (610) 892-4940. Our office is in Media, Pennsylvania. We represent clients in Media, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Lancaster, Montgomery County, Norristown, Philadelphia, Reading, West Chester, and throughout Pennsylvania.
