Documentation Is Essential With Workers' Compensation Claims
Documenting a workplace injury is very important. Sadly, it is not enough to simply state that you are injured. All workers' compensation claims will be settled largely based on the documentation that the employee provides. For this reason, it is important that you know which documentation tips to follow.
Employer Notification
The first piece of documentation you want to collect is proof that you notified your employer of the incident. While you might think your injuries would speak for themselves, this is not how the process works. All employees who are injured must provide written notification to the employee of the incident. This notification will typically lead to an incident report that details the specifics of the event. If you do not have this documentation, your employer can deny your workers' compensation.
Wage Tracking
It is also important for you to track your wages. If you are injured and forced to miss time from work, it is easy to assume that your employer will keep an accurate assessment of your missed wages, but sometimes this simply does not happen. For this reason, it is important to monitor your wages on your own. Ideally, you should keep a spreadsheet or other journal to keep track of your missed hours. In the event your employers' records are not accurate, you will have a point of reference.
Medical Records
You also want to ensure you keep all the documentation for your medical records. Medical documentation, in short, helps prove that you did sustain an injury. Your records will document when the injury occurred, the extent of the injury, and what specific requirements will be involved in your recovery. All of this information helps you assess the value of your workers' compensation claim. Once you have your documentation from your initial doctor's visit, an attorney can help you begin to assess the value of the claim.
Employer Response
It is also important for you to document any responses you receive from your employer. Unfortunately, some employers will try to encourage their employees to drop their workers' compensation claim or attempt to impede the claims process in any other way. Whether your employer is engaging in this behavior or not, you should keep a copy of all the documentation you receive from your employer for your attorney to review.
Remember, it is critical that you keep these documentation tips in mind. Be sure to speak with an attorney for additional documentation tips.
For more info about workers' compensation law, contact a local company.
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