Injured at Work? Avoid These 4 Mistakes

Suffering an injury while at work may leave you with debilitating and painful injuries. Workplace injuries can range from minor or moderate to severe and life-threatening. After you are hurt on the job, most of your worries may revolve around your health and future. Most victims of workplace injuries want to get the care they need as quickly as possible and file a claim for any compensation as soon as possible.

However, your approach to handling the aftermath of a workplace injury can affect your workers’ compensation claim and rights under the law. The following are common mistakes a worker injured on the job might make as they try to move forward from an injury. To ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the full compensation you deserve, it is important to seek the help of experienced and dedicated professionals such as the lawyers at HGSK Law Firm in Pennsylvania.

1. Going to an Occupational Health Clinic For a Serious Injury or Emergency

When you suffer an injury at work, you may not know the seriousness of what you are facing until you receive a medical evaluation. Even if you are only experiencing minor symptoms in the immediate moments after an accident, that does not mean you are out of the woods. Many injuries can result in a delay in the onset of the symptoms you will come to experience.

After an injury at work, you should seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible. To do so, you should notify your employer immediately about your injury. In some cases, your employer will direct you to a particular medical provider – usually designated as an occupational health clinic – for treatment, and your employer may also request that you sign paperwork that limits your treatment to a “panel” of providers for the first 90 days after your injury. If this occurs in your case, you should be aware that “off-panel” treatment during the first 90 days will not be covered by the workers’ compensation carrier. While an occupational health clinic may not have the same resources to evaluate and treat urgent and serious injuries that a hospital would have, an occupational health clinic is sometimes the only option for initial treatment in the early days after an injury.

However, if your employer does not refer you to a specific medical provider, you may want to consider going to the nearest emergency room which has the resources, equipment, and experienced medical staff to provide you with quality care and treat a wide range of injuries, from minor to life-threatening.

2. Allowing the Employer, or the Insurance Company, to Limit Care

It should not be up to your employer or the insurance company to determine what you are feeling or what your injuries are. However, when an injured worker goes to a treatment clinic designated by either of these parties, they may be at the mercy of what treatment they communicate to the clinic they designate as compensable under a claim. This can cause complications to your health and delays in treatment that could prevent you from recovering sooner.

To protect your rights and fight for the treatment you need, you should thoroughly document your injuries from the moments following an accident. When you are asked to complete an accident report, you must detail every symptom you feel, even if you are unsure of the severity of the injury.

If a medical provider is not listening to your complaint of injury or refusing to treat injuries as requested, you may need a lawyer quickly to advocate on your behalf for the treatment you deserve. That’s where the experienced and dedicated professionals at HGSK Law Firm come in. They will fight to make sure that you receive the medical treatment and compensation you deserve.

3. Not Requesting Testing or Referrals

Often the only way to determine whether an individual has a specific injury is to undergo testing that can confirm the presence of the injury. However, medical tests, such as imaging and other diagnostic tools, are costly to insurers. When a worker goes to an occupational health clinic recommended by the employer or its insurance company, the worker may not get the necessary testing when it is needed. You may have to jump through hoops and obstacles to get the tests necessary to evaluate your condition.

You have the right to request testing relating to your injury. If a doctor refuses to refer you for further testing, you can request a second opinion or referral to a specialist who can provide the proper care. No one should try to interfere with the diagnosis of your injury.

If you feel you are not being heard and a clinic avoids testing that could confirm your injury, speak to an HGSK lawyer as soon as possible.

4. Waiting Too Long to Hire an Attorney

The best time to hire a lawyer for a workers’ compensation claim is right after your injury. The sooner you hire an attorney, the sooner they can step in to represent your interests and protect your rights in the workers’ compensation claim process. When you hire a lawyer early in the process, you can avoid unnecessary complications or delays that may occur when you begin the claims process without their help. At HGSK Law Firm, our experienced lawyers will be there every step of the way to make sure that your rights are protected and that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Never Handle a Workers’ Compensation Claim on Your Own – Call HGSK Law Firm for a Consultation

A workplace injury can significantly impact your health, well-being, and financial stability. The aftermath of a workplace injury can be confusing and overwhelming, but it is crucial to take the proper steps to protect your rights and receive the compensation you deserve. Common mistakes many workers make can jeopardize their chances of receiving the medical treatment and compensation they need.

At HGSK Law Firm, we know the difficulties you can face when dealing with an employer or insurance company after an injury. You are not at the mercy of the insurance company or your employer; you have rights under the law and should pursue the compensation and medical treatment available to you.

Don’t handle a workers’ compensation claim on your own. Call HGSK Law Firm for a consultation today. Our experienced and dedicated professionals will work tirelessly to ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the full compensation you deserve. Don’t let the mistakes others make be your own. Contact HGSK Law Firm now to get the support you need.