When you have been hurt on the job, knowing the best course of action can be difficult. After you receive medical treatment for your injuries, you will have a stack of medical bills that need paying, which can be hard when your injury prevents you from working for any extended period. Circumstances like these are why workers’ comp benefits were developed. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the process for applying for workers’ compensation, making it possible that they miss out on the benefits they deserve. Read on to learn how to apply for workers’ comp in Chattanooga, and find out how a workers’ compensation attorney can help ease the application process.
Understand Your Rights
The most important part of applying for workers’ comp is understanding the benefits you are entitled to.
- Medical Treatment: You are entitled to receive medical treatment for your injury without being responsible for the cost if it is determined that your injury was preventable and you were not at fault.
- Temporary Disability Benefits: You can receive temporary disability benefits to help you financially until you can return to work.
Understanding the benefits you might receive before beginning the application process will help you know what to ask for and the best way to prove that you deserve it.
Report Your Injury Immediately
After you have been injured on the job, you have a brief period to report your injury to a supervisor and start the process of applying for workers’ comp. Your injury needs to be reported within 30 days of occurring, or 30 days after you have received medical treatment and your doctor has deemed the injury to have resulted from conditions at your workplace. However, you should make sure to report your injury as soon as possible after your accident instead of allowing the window to expire. Not only will this speak to the seriousness of your injury, but it will also speed up the application process and shorten the time you have to wait to receive your much-needed benefits.
Undergo a Medical Examination
After you have reported your injury, the next step of the process is to select a doctor who will provide treatment. Your employer will provide you with a list of no less than 3 doctors in your area who will provide your care. After you select a doctor and sign a form with your employer, this doctor will be designated as your authorized caregiver, and your employer will pay for any treatment that you receive from them. Any medical exams and treatment that you receive that is not under the supervision of your authorized physician will come at your own expense.
Protect Your Workers’ Comp Claim in Chattanooga
Even if you follow the correct steps for applying for workers’ compensation, it is possible for your employer to deny your claim. If this is the case, having a lawyer advocate for you can be extremely helpful. Additionally, if your employer is not fulfilling their responsibilities within the workers’ comp process, you have the right to a review that will hopefully result in you receiving your benefits. However, before you start the review process, it is important that you get the right legal representation. To find an attorney who will help you apply for workers’ compensation in Chattanooga and will fight on your behalf if your claim has been rejected, look no further than The McMahan Law Firm. The attorneys at The McMahan Law Firm can help you understand how to apply for workers’ comp and will work tirelessly on your behalf until it is approved. Contact us today so we can start working on your claim.
