My name is Arlene, and two years ago, I was involved in a car accident that wasn't my fault. I had some injuries that required a hospital stay, and I was unable to return to work for several weeks. I didn't know how I was going to pay my bills, and it was very stressful for me. My friend told me that I needed to hire an accident and personal injury attorney so I could recover my lost wages and medical costs. I was so glad that I hired the attorney, and my stress level immediately went down. Through the attorney, I was able to get a settlement, and I was no longer in financial trouble. I am writing this blog to let everyone know the importance of hiring an attorney after an accident. It's my wish that this blog will help others who are in similar situations.
Mattie Bennett
It's unfortunate when employers are uncooperative in a workers' compensation claim. Getting insurance money with a contested claim can be a bit more difficult, but the following steps will help you to carry out the process correctly.
Rule 1: Always Hire a Lawyer
In most workers' compensation claims, the insurance company is fairly good at dealing with straightforward claims and paying a standard amount for your injuries. However, when an employer disputes the claim, the whole case undergoes a higher level of scrutiny. Hiring a workers compensation lawyer is a great idea for making sure there is a third party on your side to provide detailed evidence to your claim evaluator.
Rule 2: Follow All Instructions
While your claim is being evaluated, you may need to deal with your employer and potentially even work. Sometimes your insurance company dictates that you are able to do light work to replace your normal job, for instance. Be sure that you comply with these requests, even if you are on shaky terms with your employer, since they can affect the outcome of your claim evaluation.
Rule 3: Collect As Much Information As Possible
Knowing the reasons that your employer is disputing your claim will help you figure out what defenses you have. If the employer denies the severity of your injury, then strong medical examination and documentation will be helpful. If the employer says you were drunk at the time of your accident, you may want to approach coworkers about testifying about your behavior the day of the accident; although this information isn't hard proof that you weren't drunk, it can help to cast doubt on the claim.
When your employer tries to claim that your injury wasn't work-related, it helps to have photographic documentation of the injury site as well as coworker reports to back up your claim. Your workers' compensation lawyer will help you devise a strategy for refuting your employer's remarks.
Rule 4: Stay Off Social Media
Finally, your workers' compensation lawyer will likely advise you to be as private as possible during your workers' compensation claim. Any information you post about your life on social media could be potential ammo for your employer. For instance, they could claim that since they saw you doing physical activity or throwing a party on your social media account, your health is much better than you claim. Some adjustments may be needed to properly defend yourself in a workers' compensation claim.