5 Common Mistakes Employees Make After a Workplace Accident

You may be surprised to learn that more than 90% of all workers’ compensation claims for a workplace accident are approved. It’s actually quite rare that your worker comp claim could be denied. However, it does happen. Sometimes, it’s because you didn’t submit the proper paperwork. Or your claim may have been denied because your employer doesn’t believe that your injuries were work-related. If this is the case with you, it’s a good idea to sit down with a seasoned Charlotte workers comp lawyer. They can review your denial letter and find out what your options are. They can also warn you against making some of the more common mistakes our clients make.

Here, we’ll discuss some of the things that can cause your employer to deny your workers compensation claim. Most of the time, these things could have been prevented. This is why it’s so important that you meet with a workers compensation attorney in Charlotte as soon as possible after your workplace accident. They can help you avoid making these mistakes. They can also negotiate with your employer and their insurance carrier to get your claim paid.

If you’re in the middle of what has become a workers compensation nightmare, give us a call. We can schedule your free, initial consultation over the phone or through our website.

You Don’t Report Your Accident and Injuries to Your Manager or Human Resources

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to workers compensation is failing to report your accident. Not only does your company policy require you to report your workplace accident, but common sense dictates that you do this. How else will your employer know that you were hurt?

If you don’t report your workplace  accident and resulting injuries, you won’t be able to file your workers’ compensation claim. Nor will you be able to secure the medical treatment you need. Some of our clients have said they didn’t report the accident right away because they didn’t think they were hurt. It wasn’t until weeks later that they said anything.

The problem with this is that your employer and their insurance carrier are going to think you didn’t report your injuries because you were under the influence of drugs at the time and knew your claim would be denied. After a few weeks, when you knew the drugs were out of your system, you conveniently think to report your workplace accident.

You Refuse Medical Treatment

You should never refuse medical treatment after a workplace accident. Not only do you need to make sure you’re okay, but you need to document your injuries. When it comes time for your Charlotte workers comp lawyer to prove that you were hurt, they’ll have nothing to go on. It will be your word against your employer’s. Sadly, the North Carolina Industrial Commission will take the side of your employer nine times out of ten.

You Seek Treatment from a Doctor Other than the One Assigned to You

According to North Carolina workers compensation law, you are only allowed to be treated by a state-approved workers compensation doctor. When you first report your workplace accident, your employer or their insurance carrier will assign a doctor to you. You are only to be seen by this physician. If you seek treatment elsewhere, your medical bills will not be covered. Furthermore, your workers’ comp claim will likely be denied. While your workers’ compensation attorney in Charlotte may be able to get your claim reopened if you agree to see the assigned doctor, there’s no reason to put yourself and your attorney through this.

You Won’t Participate in Your Medical Treatment

The whole point of filing a worker’s compensation claim is to get the medical care you need to get back to work. Yes, you will receive weekly benefits as well. However, these benefits aren’t equal to your full pay. Nor do they last forever.

If you don’t participate in your own recovery from the workplace accident, your benefits will be terminated. For example, don’t miss your appointments with your workers’ compensation doctor. They expect you to show up and to be cooperative while you’re there. You also can’t refuse to undergo certain procedures. This can work against you and cost you whatever benefits you may have been entitled to.

You Post About Your Accident on Social Media

Never post about your workplace accident online. This includes the accident itself as well as your injuries. More importantly, make sure you don’t speak a word about your employer or your workers compensation claim on social media. All it takes is one wrong comment or picture, and your claim can be denied. Even if your claim was already approved, they can terminate your benefits if you do or say something inappropriate.

You Should Consider Hiring a Seasoned Charlotte Workers Comp Lawyer

If you were hurt on the job and your workers’ compensation claim still hasn’t been approved, you should call our office. After a certain amount of time goes by, you should know whether your claim has been approved. Your Charlotte workers comp lawyer can reach out to your employer and find out what is going on. If they learn that your claim has been denied, they can always help you file an appeal. If, on the other hand, your claim is still under review, they can find out what that is.

We recommend that anybody who is hurt at work should contact a workers’ compensation attorney in Charlotte as soon as possible after their workplace accident. It’s a good idea to have an attorney there by your side, even if it’s just to make sure your claim is handled properly. This will also put your employer and their insurance carrier on notice that you’ve retained an experienced attorney. They will make your claim a priority and will think twice about trying to take advantage of you.

Since we offer new clients a free, initial consultation, you have nothing to lose by calling us. Our goal is to make sure you know what your options are. If you choose to retain our services, one of our Charlotte workers comp lawyers will stand by you throughout the entire claims process. You don’t pay anything upfront. In fact, you don’t pay anything until we settle your case. Give us a call today so we can schedule a date and time for you to come into the office.