The Workers Compensation Insurance Process – And When Lawyers Should Become Involved

If you have been injured at work in California, you may be wondering how to navigate your workers compensation claim in order to receive compensation for your injuries. You may also be wondering when to hire an attorney, or if you even need an attorney.

Hiring an attorney experienced in the area of workers compensation to handle your workers compensation claim, is always a good idea. Even if you are sure that your claim will be accepted, there are certain reporting and filing deadlines that must be met in order to preserve your claim. Call California workers’ compensation attorneys Kneisler & Schondel today. Due to the complex nature of work injury claims, having knowledgeable attorneys fighting for your rights to compensation may make a world of difference in your case.

The First Steps After You Hav Been Injured

If you suffer an injury at work, the workers compensation process begins with you reporting your injury to your employer. You should report the injury to your supervisor or someone at the management level. You should also seek medical treatment right away. If the injury is serious, you or a coworker should call an ambulance so you can get proper medical care. Assuming you are alert enough to do so, it is also important to tell the medical provider that you were injured at work.

If you do not need emergency medical care, it is still important to seek out medical treatment right away. You should advise the medical provider that you suffered a work-related injury, and will also likely be asked for some details by your doctor regarding how the injury occurred. Be sure to be specific and honest, since the medical record will likely become a part of your workers’ compensation case.

Filing Your Workers Compensation Claim

Within one day of reporting your work injury, your employer is required to give you a Workers Compensation Claim Form. It is important that you read the form carefully and make sure you fill out the “employee” section of the form completely. Once you have filled out the form, you will then turn it back into your employer, and they will then fill out the “employer” section of the form and provide it to their claims administrator or insurance company for processing.

Accepting or Denying Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

The next step in the workers compensation claim process is the claims administrator’s decision as to whether or not to accept your workers’ compensation claim. If your claim is accepted, you will start to receive medical benefits, and if you have been off of work due to your injuries, you may start receiving compensation for that time.

If your claim is denied, you will have a chance to challenge the decision. If you do not yet have an attorney at this step in the process, it is very important to contact an attorney that handles workers compensation cases in order to ensure that you meet all deadlines associated with challenging a denied claim. Your attorney will also be able to take a closer look at any medical records and the facts surrounding your case so that he or she can give you the strongest chance at getting your claim accepted.

When Should I Involve an Attorney in my Workers Compensation Case?

Ideally, the best time to involve an attorney in your workers compensation case is immediately after your injury occurs. That way, your attorney can make sure that your case is on the right track and filed properly. If you did not retain an attorney shortly after your injury, and you are dealing with a denial of your claim, then it is very important to hire an attorney at this point in order to have the best chance to get things turned around and get your claim accepted.

Whenever you do decide to seek out representation for your workers compensation claim, you will want experienced attorneys fighting for you, such as the California workers compensation attorneys at Kneisler & Schondel. Call the law office of Kneisler & Schondel today for a consultation regarding your workers’ compensation case. Due to varying deadlines at different stages in the workers’ compensation process, speaking with legal counsel right away is to your benefit.