Injured on the Assembly Line

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Injured on the Assembly Line

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

If you are an assembly line worker and have been injured on the job, it is important that you understand what steps you need to follow so that you can proceed with protecting your health and seeking compensation for your injuries. The first steps that you take are vital in your case and can mean the difference between a favorable outcome and one that causes you to lose.

Seeking medical help should be your top priority.

If you are working and become injured while on the clock, it is vital that you receive medical care. If your injury is life-threatening, have someone call an ambulance immediately. If you need to leave the job to seek medical help, make sure that you contact your immediate supervisor, if possible, so that they know that you are leaving your work assignment.

Once at the hospital or doctor’s clinic, you will need to make sure you inform the doctor that you have been injured while at work. By giving your doctor this information upfront, he or she will be better able to prepare the necessary reports that you will need for the proof of your injury claim. Your doctor will take notes on your account of how the injury occurred along with the medical findings to come to a conclusion.

In the physician’s report, you can expect to see a full outline of the physician’s findings, along with test results, proposed treatments, medications, therapy, and any needed medical devices. This will be used as a part of your case to prove your injuries.

How to File Your Claim

To file your worker’s compensation claim, you will need to contact your employer and officially inform them of your injury and fill out your claim paperwork. It is strongly advised that you contact a worker’s comp lawyer to take over your case. These attorneys are experts at working with worker’s compensation cases and can help you to win.

It is vital that you do not sign any medical authorizations, statements, releases, or any other paperwork that your employer or the insurance company asks you to sign until you have received advice from your attorney. It is the insurance company’s job to keep from paying on your claim and they will use many different methods to make sure that your claim is denied.

What Happens After Your Claim has Been Filed?

Once your claim has been filed, you will need to wait and see how your employer responds. Most states give employers up to 90 days to accept or deny a claim. If your claim is denied, you have the legal right to challenge the decision, but you must do so within a certain timeframe.

By having a worker’s compensation attorney working on your side, you can help to ensure a more favorable outcome for your case. This will allow you to focus on healing and recovering instead of worrying about paperwork and dealing with your employer and the insurance company. It makes the entire process go much more smoothly.