After you’ve been injured at work you may not be in a good frame of mind to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim, but the truth is that you need to make sure you are not making common mistakes when you’re filing, because otherwise your claim process might get slowed down and you could go far too long without compensation for your injury.
It is for this reason that it is important that you are aware of some of the most common errors that people make when filing for workers’ compensation. If you know the errors up front you will be much more likely to be able to avoid them in the event that you are injured on the job.
We have compiled a list of some of the mistakes we see people make and while this is not a comprehensive list it is certainly a starting point for you to understand and avoid these mistakes. Filing a workers’ compensation claim may sound a bit intimidating, but if you know what you need to avoid it can break down those walls more quickly.
Mistake #1: Not notifying your immediate supervisor when an injury occurs in a timely manner. Notifying your direct supervisor as soon as possible is a critical first step in filing a claim. If this is not done or you let it linger too long not only will your compensation be delayed, but it is more likely that it will get denied because it may raise suspicion about the validity of your claim.
Mistake #2: When you become injured, you do not seek medical attention immediately. Not only is it important for you to seek medical attention for an injury, no matter how big or small, for your own health and well-being, in the claims process it is also important so you can maintain documentation of your injuries. Seeking medical attention will allow you to have complete documentation of your injuries, no matter how big or small, to include in your claim filing.
Mistake #3: Providing an incomplete story of the incident that led to the injury. Just like you would when you’re detailing an auto accident to a police officer on the scene, you will want to be as accurate as possible when you report the story of your workplace incident. When you report an incident you will want to include all pertinent information including the date and time of the accident, the location, a description of the accident and a reporting of all of the people who were involved in the accident. When you are detailed you will have a clearer claim for benefits.
Mistake #4: Before, after and during medical treatment, not maintaining records. When you are being seen by a medical provider who is treating you for your injury that occurred at work you are going to want to make sure you get documentation for each step of the recovery journey. You will want to have documentation of your initial visit all the way through to when your provider clears you to go back to work. This documentation is critical in the claims process.
It may seem like a daunting task to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim after an accident that left you injured, but truth be told, if you avoid these mistakes you will likely be OK when you start the claims process. Along the way you may need to seek the guidance of an experienced attorney who can help walk you through the process. Our board certified workers’ compensation attorneys have handled a wide variety of situations and they can work with you to address your situation. Don’t hesitate to get help in protecting your long-term interests.
