3 Things You Want To Avoid During A Workers Comp Case

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3 Things You Want To Avoid During A Workers Comp Case

11 March 2015
 Categories: , Blog


Have you been injured while on the job? If so, you deserve compensation from your workers compensation insurance policy -- and a workers comp attorney can help you get it. Unfortunately, there are some things that you might accidentally do that could complicate your case. While you are filing for workers compensation you will often be under an intense amount of scrutiny. It's important to be very careful and to avoid anything that could be misinterpreted.

1. Exaggerating Your Injuries

It's just human nature to exaggerate injuries, even when we don't intend to. But during a workers comp claim this can be particularly dangerous because it is something that the investigators are looking for. Instead, you should rely on the actual documentation of your injuries to base your claim upon. This is also why it's very important to see a doctor early and to document the entire process of treatment.

2. Failing to Document Old Injuries

Sometimes people try to file a workers compensation claim for an injury that they really had before. For instance, someone might have hurt their back in a car injury five years ago and then claim that their back was truly injured at work. The unfortunate side effect is that you may be looked at with some skepticism if your injury aggravates a preexisting injury or occurs in an area that had a preexisting injury. Your best bet is often to be upfront about this: make sure that both injuries are thoroughly documented so that it cannot be said you were hiding the first injury.

3. Taking Too Long to Go Back to Work

When you're hurt, the idea of going back to work -- especially a place that you were injured in! -- can be very distressing. But because workers compensation compensates you for your lost wages, it's important for you to take reasonable action to go back to work when you feel confident that you can complete your work. That doesn't mean you should force yourself to work when you're injured; it only means that you should be able to show compelling reasons as to why you returned to work when you did.

Apart from the above, simply listen to your lawyer's advice. Don't assume that because your employer has workers compensation insurance that you don't need to hire an attorney. It's always a good idea to deal with an attorney as soon as possible in these situations. Employers have an interest in lowering their workers compensation payouts because each payout increases their insurance policy.