Have you injured yourself at work or received a permanent disability following an accident on the job in Kansas City? If so, you are most likely eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim.
Filing a claim can be amazingly complicated. Although the original intention was to make workers’ comp simple enough for the average worker to handle the job on his own, that was more than 100 years ago. Today, the complexity of the rules and statutes may be enough to make you want to toss your hands in the air and give up.
This is why you should call a workers’ compensation lawyer in Kansas City to help. Together with your lawyer, you will work to receive the fairest settlement in your case.
Here are five things you should know about workers’ compensation.
- You must report all injuries and illnesses that are job related. If your doctor has told you that you have a work-related injury, it is important that you report every detail back to your boss. Although this may make you feel as if you are reporting too much, the more details your company has, the better they will be able to cover you adequately. With your doctor backing your injuries, it is important that you are as honest and straightforward with your employer as possible.
- Go where your employer recommends. While you will not have a choice where the ambulance takes you in case of an emergency, follow-up appointments should be done at the location that your employer recommends. If you ignore your employers’ referral and go to another doctor, you risk losing your workers’ compensation claim.
- Make it clear to the doctor you were injured at work. Doctors know the delicacy of workers’ compensation claims. By telling your physician that you were injured on the job, you make it clear that your injury is work-related. This puts your doctor on notice to document your injuries as accurately as possible — something that can help your case in the long term.
- Get a written explanation of your employer’s workers’ compensation policy. Your employer will have an explanation of their policy ready. However, it is important to get the policy in writing so your Kansas City workers’ comp attorney has a reference and can provide you with the most accurate representation possible.
- Remember that workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance. In some cases, employers have told employees that their accident was their fault and therefore they are not covered under the workers’ compensation policy. This is not true. Speak to your lawyer about the details and have them help you combat this claim with your employer so that you can get treated as fairly as possible.
If you have been hurt on the job, you have rights in your case. Give us a call at 816-842-7100 or email us for help navigating through the complex rules and statues and getting the best resolution from your employer. Our office handles claims in both Kansas and Missouri.
