Learn what types of records you need to keep to support your workers’ compensation claim
Have you been injured at work? The good news is your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance should cover your medical treatment and provide other benefits while you are out of work due to your injury. The bad news is the workers’ compensation claims process can be complicated and difficult to navigate.
There are two things you can do to make things easier on yourself: hire an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, and keep meticulous records.
4 Essential Records for Proving Your Claim
In order to get your workers’ compensation claim approved, you need to be able to establish certain facts about your accident and your injury. To do this, you will need the following types of records:
- Medical Records: Obviously, medical records will be essential for proving that you have in fact suffered an injury. You should keep a complete copy of your medical record, updating it as your treatment progresses.
- Accident Reports: Any time you have an accident at work, you should follow your employer’s in-house reporting requirements. This will result in an accident report including all the details about how exactly you got hurt at work. This report can be used to prove that your injury was in fact work-related, which is a prerequisite for getting workers’ comp.
- Employment Records: This might seem obvious, but you need to be able to prove you were an employee of the company whose workers’ compensation insurance you are trying to use. In most cases, pay stubs are sufficient for this purpose. You should also keep track of how many days you have to miss from work due to your injury.
- Witness Testimony: Testimony from witnesses can supplement the accident report as well as help establish the extent and nature of your injuries and your prognosis for recovery. Testimony from an expert medical witness is especially important if you have been temporarily or permanently disabled.
Additional Records for Maximizing Compensation
Getting your workers’ compensation claim approved is just the first step. You also need to keep records that will help maximize your benefits.
Mileage & Out of Pocket Expenses: Workers’ compensation will reimburse you for expenses related to traveling to and from your medical appointments. This may include mileage as well as other travel expenses like parking, tolls, or bus fare.
Pain Journal: Keeping a daily journal where you describe the pain and physical limitations caused by your injuries is very important for showing that you have been hurt badly enough that you really are unable to work.
Need Help?
At The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, we provide professional assistance with your workers’ compensation claim, so you can rest assured it is being handled properly and focus on your recovery, not the paperwork. Contact us at 800-333-0000 for a free consultation.
