When you suffer a work-related injury that may keep you out of work for an extended period, the first thing you should consider is filing a workers' compensation claim. Unfortunately, there are several seemingly small mistakes that you can make while filing a claim that can keep you from getting the payout you deserve. Here are three tips for a successful workers' compensation claim.

Report the Accident Immediately and Consistently

Whether your injury was the result of a sudden accident at work or symptoms emerging from repetitive strain, you should report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. Many states have a statute of limitations for the amount of time after an injury that you can report it and make a workers' comp claim. In most states, you have to report the injury to your employer within 30 to 45 days.

Not only do you need to report your claim in time, but you also need to make sure your description of events is consistent when talking to your employer and your doctor. Keeping your description of the injury concise will help your doctor to write the details down properly and prevent the workers' comp insurer from finding any discrepancies when talking to your employer or looking at your medical records.

Attend Medical Treatment After the Accident

From your employer's and the insurer's point of view, you are probably not in need of workers' compensation if you do not attend treatment according to your doctor's instructions. Visit a doctor promptly after your injury and continue taking any medication and making any follow-up visits that he or she recommends. This will help indicate to your employer and the insurer that your injury is non-trivial and you are serious about your claim.

Hire a Workers' Compensation Attorney

Even though employers are prohibited by law from firing an employee for filing a workers' compensation claim, this does not mean it will not be an adversarial process. Many employers deny all initial workers' comp claims in hopes that the employee will not try to appeal. When an employer does make a settlement offer, it is often not enough to cover the full amount of lost income and medical bills.

A workers' compensation attorney is a valuable asset in any claim. Your attorney can help to guarantee that your settlement covers all lost wages and medical bills and help you through the process of appealing your claim if it's denied. An attorney can also give you advice about filing for disability in the event that your injury keeps you out of work permanently.

Filing a workers' compensation claim can be difficult, as you are dealing with the stress of lost income and the pain of an injury at the same time. Use these tips to avoid common mistakes when filing a workers' compensation claim and maximize your payout.

To learn more, visit a website like http://www.lshlaw.com. 

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