by Greg W Huffman

Created on: August 11, 2010

Receiving benefits from Workers Compensation can be like trying to get your ear back from Mike Tyson.  I have been injured at work and I had to work tirelessly to get my claim covered through Workman's Comp.  I had to fight for myself when no one else would help me.  Fighting for Workman's Comp benefits, turned me into a self-made lawyer.  My labor union could only do so much for me.  They provided me with a lawyer, but I was better off on my own.  Here are some tips to ensure that Workman's Comp pays for your injuries.

Document Everything

Report your injury immediately to your first line supervisor.  Failing to do this will give your employer the ability to claim that your injury didn't happen on the job site.  Fill out an incident report and turn it into your immediate supervisor before you leave work on the day of the incident.  Have any and all employees who witnessed your injury fill out witness statements.  These statements will corroborate your story and give your claim credibility.  Make a copy of every piece of paperwork generated as a result of your injury and keep them for your records.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Depending on the severity of your injury, seek medical attention immediately.  Always leave the workplace in an ambulance.  Workman's Comp will try to fight your claim by insinuating that you were not injured - since you physically walked out of work.  Once at the hospital, make copies of all paperwork given to you by medical staff.  Keep these for your records.

Stay Home

Do not rush back to work.  Stay out of work until you are completely healed.  The second you set foot in the workplace [after your injury] your benefits will cease.  Workman's Comp will only pay you benefits as long as you are disabled.  Make sure that your doctor medically clears you before you return to work.  Returning to work without such clearance will doom your benefits.  Your doctor will give you "Full Duty" status when you are physically able to return to work.  If you receive this status and you still feel injured - seek a second opinion from another physician.

These three tips are guaranteed to help you make Workman's Comp pay for your injury.  If you fail to follow any one of these tips- Workman's Comp will fight you and win.

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