Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance policy that employers are required to carry to protect their employees in the event of an accident or injury. These policies are designed to cover the medical care costs of the employee and to replace a portion of their wages while they are unable to work.
It sounds like a very straightforward type of insurance policy.
Sadly, filing a claim for workers’ compensation may not be as straightforward and easy as it sounds.
Filing For Workers Compensation In Pomona CA
If you have been injured on the job, there are several steps that you should take to protect yourself and your rights to file a claim for compensation.
File An Injury Report
You want to file an injury report as soon as the injury occurs. Make sure that this is an official report so that you can begin to receive the medical coverage you need for your injuries. Make sure to include as much information, including witness information, to the report.
If your injuries are severe and you cannot complete the report immediately, make sure that once you are stabilized, you prepare your portion of the report and do not sign anything until your accounts of the accident and injury are added.
Follow Through On Medical Care
You must follow through on all of the medical care and treatments prescribed by your doctor. Do not miss any appointments or follow through on therapies that they prescribe. Missing appointments or not following care instructions makes the insurance company believe that you are fully recovered from your injury.
Avoid Social Media
The insurance company is going to be monitoring your social media accounts. Do not post anything on social media related to your accident, injuries, or medical care. Do not post any pictures on social media until your case is closed, even old ones. Do not talk about celebrations, parties, or vacations, even if they are from the past. The insurer is looking for anything that they can use to deny your claim.
Speak With A Workers Comp Lawyer in Pomona CA
Having a workers comp attorney in Pomona represent your claim ensures that you are treated fairly by the insurance company.
Insurance Companies Are Focused On One Thing
Insurance companies are always focused on one thing- paying out as little as possible for any claim. This also applies to workers’ comp claims.
This is the main reason that you need to have a Pomona workers’ compensation lawyer managing your case. Your attorney will protect you from:
- Denied claims or denied medical care
- Delayed medical care
- Denied types of treatment based on costs
- “Forgotten” benefits owed to you by the insurer
- Delayed wage payments
- Being forced back to work too soon after the injury
- Low-ball settlement offers
Your attorney will make sure that you are protected from the insurance company making decisions that are only beneficial to their bottom line and not your health.
The Insurance Company Stated I Did Not Need An Attorney
Many insurance adjusters try to discourage people from seeking help from a workers compensation attorney in Pomona because they know it will cost the company more money. They talk so friendly to the injury victim and assure them that they will “take care” of everything for them, and there is no reason to involve an attorney.
Anyone who is given this speech by an insurance adjustor should let the warning bells go off in their heads and immediately call an attorney. When the insurer is insistent about not using an attorney, it is the exact time that you need one.
What If I Become Disabled?
If your injury has caused a disability, it is even more important to have legal representation. Your disability will change the way that you can work if you can return to your position at all. Protect your financial future with quality legal representation.
If you cannot return to work, your attorney will seek on your behalf compensation for your future earnings. This is a complex issue that should be handled by an attorney so that you are treated fairly.
Having an attorney manage any workers’ compensation claim ensures that your rights are always protected, and you receive fair compensation for your injury and losses.
When In Doubt – Speak With A Pomona Workers Compensation Lawyer
Even if you did not contact an attorney right when you were injured, it is okay. Your attorney can protect your rights and seek compensation on your behalf at any point before the case is settled.
It will always be in your best interest to have legal representation in a workers comp case. This is the best way to protect your rights and ensure that you are treated fairly by the insurance company.
Our firm can help you if:
- The money your employer offers is not enough to cover all of your doctors’ bills or lost wages. If you find yourself dipping into your own pocket after a workplace injury, it’s time to get a professional involved.
- Your employer says the injury did not happen in the course of your employment. Workers’ comp law is complicated and there are a number of regulations around what exactly constitutes an injury that can be covered. Getting a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney on your side will help you defend your rights and get you the protection you deserve.
- Your injury will permanently prevent you from doing the job you used to do. Don’t worry! You’re entitled to protection if you have a permanent disability resulting from your workplace injury.
Dedicated to Representing Injured Workers
The workers’ compensation attorneys at LG Law Center, Inc. have seen a number of complex workers’ compensation cases. No claim is too complex for their work injury attorneys in Pomona. Call them today at (866) 940-9744 to get started on your claim with a free consultation.
Workers Comp FAQs
How Soon Should I File My Workers’ Compensation Claim?
It is best if you notify your employer about your injury as soon as possible. Once your employer has provided you with your DWC-1 claim form, you should fill it out and turn it in within 30 days of when the injury occurred.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
If you miss the 30 day deadline for filing your claim, you run the risk of having your claim denied. If you are past the 30 day deadline, you should contact a workers’ compensation attorney immediately, to discuss whether or not there are exceptions to the deadline that you may qualify for.
How Can Our Firm Help?
Workers’ compensation law is complex. Getting the full benefits you deserve can come down to knowing what paperwork to file and when. Our Pomona workplace injury attorneys have years of experience representing injured workers in California. We can help you negotiate with your employer and their insurer so you get the right benefits at the right times.
Beyond negotiations, one of our services includes helping you find an unbiased doctor who will provide an accurate assessment of your injury, rather than one who will favor the employer. We can also help you manage the mountain of forms that will come with getting the right medical treatment and ensuring you never have to pay for any of it.
Suffering an injury at work is stressful enough. That stress only increases when you’re spending hours at the doctor and healing, unable to bring home the paycheck to which you’re accustomed. Why not let us take some of that stress off your plate?
At LG Law Center, Inc. our goal is to take some of the pain out of a workplace injury. We can help you fight for an appropriate settlement or, if need be, represent you in court so that you get the treatment and compensation you need.
Reach out to us today at (866) 940-9744 to get started on your claim with a free consultation.