It is not uncommon following a work accident for an injured employee to be confused on what to do next. Following the accident is the start of a strange and confusing process for those that have not been through it before. Taking the right steps is critical in order to safeguard your rights and to maximize your compensation. You may be considering calling a lawyer for legal help with your claim. Before doing so, here are some things as to what to do before calling a workers’ compensation lawyer.
Report The Accident
If you have not done so already, be sure to report to your supervisor exactly what happened. Be sure to be as specific as possible and provide the precise date and time of the accident, how it happened, where it happened, and the names of any witnesses that saw the accident. Once this is provided to the employer, they then have 7 days to report the accident to their workers’ compensation insurance company.
Receive Medical Treatment
If you are physically, or mentally injured from the work accident, be sure to seek appropriate medical care. If you are injured, and there are no medical records documenting your injuries, then your claim will not be successful. As with reporting the accident to your employer, be as specific as possible. Be sure to tell them exactly how the accident happened, and what your precise injuries were from the accident. This is not the time to be tough and weather the pain. Instead, disclose all pain and injuries you are feeling from the accident.
Don’t Sign Anything the Insurance Company Sends You
Be sure not to sign any paperwork that the insurance company may send to you. If you end up signing paperwork, it may prevent your workers’ comp attorney from pursuing for you all available compensation you may be entitled to. If you have received paperwork from the insurer, simply put it in a file and bring it to your appointment when you meet with a lawyer.
Contact A Local Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
If you have followed these steps, then your case will be in its best possible position when you call a workers’ comp attorney. Of course failing to follow these steps does not mean your case is doomed. Rather, these are just some suggestions for how you can best protect yourself before calling an attorney for legal help. Contact the Earley Law Group Injury Lawyers today for any and all questions you have about the Massachusetts workers’ compensation claim process. We would be happy to help you.