It’s hard to process the aftermath of an accident, especially if it happened at work. Virginia’s workers’ compensation system is fairly simple and allows injured workers to recover two-thirds of their average weekly wages besides the cost of medical care. However, if you don’t take action immediately, you may miss those benefits. If you don’t understand how the system works, consider consulting a Virginia Beach workers’ compensation lawyer. In this post, we are sharing some common mistakes that you should avoid after a work injury.
- Failure to report. You are required to inform your employer about your injury, and it is best to do so within a reasonable time, although you have a window of 30 days. Your workers’ compensation claim could be denied if you don’t report the accident.
- Failure to get a medical evaluation on the same. If you want the insurance company to pay the benefits, you need evidence to prove that you were injured. Don’t make the mistake of delaying medical evaluation even for one day.
- Failure to report to Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. Even when the insurance company is paying the medical benefits, you must complete the necessary forms and submit them to the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission.
- Overlooking injuries. Your employer may tell you that your injury is a minor one and there’s nothing to be worried about. Make sure that you don’t overlook your injuries, no matter what others tell you.
- Failure to disclose pre-existing medical conditions. If you have had illnesses or injuries, you have to disclose the same, or the insurance company can use this excuse to deny your claim. Remember that you can still get the benefits as per the workers’ compensation laws if your pre-existing injury was aggravated because of a work-related injury.
- Failure to appeal. If your claim has been denied by the insurance company, you must still consider appealing against the same and requesting a hearing before the Commission. Your attorney will help you file an appeal.
- Failure to see insurance tactics. You may find that the insurance adjuster is extremely nice to you, but they don’t usually care about anything but saving money for their employer. Don’t fall for insurance tactics; if you don’t know how to deal with your workers’ compensation claim, let your attorney take over.
Call a lawyer now to get a free overview of your workers’ compensation claim.
