Workers’ compensation provides benefits to employees who incur injuries at work. Apart from a few exceptions, you may claim workers’ compensation benefits such as medical treatment, rehabilitation, recovery and payment for time off work. In Florida, the Division of Workers’ Compensation ensures that employees receive their deserved benefits following the statutes and regulations of the state.
You need to know how to go about claiming workers’ compensation to get the full benefits. Many workers make simple but severe mistakes that end up hurting their claims; here are three such common mistakes.
Failing to report and claim on time
The law in Florida requires that you report any work-related injuries to your employer within 30 days from when the injury occurred. If a prolonged illness or heath condition occurs, you should inform your employer within 30 days from first discovering it. From there, your employer can notify the insurer. Failure to report the injury and claim on time may cause you to lose some or all the workers’ compensation benefits.
Missing doctor appointments
The claims adjuster may require you to sign a medical release that permits the insurer to view your medical records. So make sure that you share all the details of the injury with the doctor to create an accurate account of your condition and treatment. Also, remember that failing to keep up with medical and therapy appointments may give the impression that your injuries are not serious.
Carelessly posting details of the injury online
Avoid unnecessarily leaking important details about your injuries or claim, especially on public platforms such as social media. Insurance companies often search for any usable information to undermine workers’ compensation cases. Seemingly innocent comments or pictures can potentially ruin the outcome of your claim.
Workers’ compensation claims are often complicated, especially keeping in mind that both the employer and insurer would prefer not to provide the benefits, but the law provides protections for employees hurt on the job.