Injuries happen, even at work. If you have been injured at work, then there’s a chance that you could be eligible for compensation. If your injuries were caused because of your employer’s negligence, i.e., they didn’t introduce safety measures or properly train you, then you can make a claim against them.
However, the claim-making process is not as simple as it should be. Don’t worry though, because this post has you covered. Here is what you need to know if you want to make a claim for compensation against your employers.
Disability Benefits
The first thing you’ll want to do after an injury at work is to apply for disability benefits. Compensation claims aren’t paid overnight, sometimes they can take years. In the meanwhile, and while you aren’t working, disability benefits will ensure that you still have a steady flow of money coming in. You can only apply for disability benefits if your injuries are so severe that you can no longer work. If you have quit your job but can go back to work, you should apply for unemployment benefits.
Acquiring Evidence
You need evidence to support your case, otherwise, no lawyer will take your claim seriously. It can be difficult to get evidence after an accident at work since employers are usually reluctant to release CCTV footage that would get into trouble. If possible, take a video at the scene of the accident. If you cannot do this, then get a medical letter from the doctor who treats you at the hospital. This letter should be a description of your injuries and an explanation of how they occurred. Witness testimonies from other employees are also useful.
Hiring Lawyer
You won’t be able to make a claim for compensation until you have hired a lawyer. Lawyers are experts in making compensation claims. A lawyer will be able to talk you through everything, even workers’ comp lump sum settlement vs. structured payments, which is a very important area of your claim that you need to think about. When hiring a lawyer, take your time and do your research. Find the lawyer who’s most qualified and experienced in your area. Ideally, the lawyer you hire should have a wealth of experience in personal injury claims. They should also have a high win-to-loss ratio.
Making Claim
In order to make a claim, all you have to do is to reach out to the lawyer who you have chosen to work with, and explain to them that you want to make a claim against your former or current employer. The lawyer you have chosen will then request that you come in and see them. The reason for meeting with them is so that you can provide a written statement, giving your account of what happened. After this, they will ask for evidence. Once you have given them an account and evidence you will not hear from them for a while, because they will be getting everything started.
Negotiating Aggressively
Make sure that you find a lawyer who’s able to negotiate and argue aggressively on your behalf. A lawyer that doesn’t negotiate aggressively isn’t worth hiring. Again, one of the best ways to determine the quality of a lawyer is to check out their reviews. If a lawyer does argue aggressively for their clients, then you will probably be able to find information proving this on their website or in their reviews. The more aggressive your lawyer is, the more compensation you are likely to get.
Being Honest
When you give an account of what happened to your lawyer, make sure that you are honest. Unfortunately, a lot of people lie or exaggerate when they are making personal injury claims, so that they can boost the amount of compensation that they get. Exaggerating or lying about one’s injuries in order to get a higher amount of compensation is fraud. If you commit fraud and are caught, your lawyer will refuse to represent you, the insurance company you are dealing with will not pay out, and you can be arrested and prosecuted. People are sent to prison for insurance fraud, so don’t risk it.
Having Patience
You need to be patient. As mentioned earlier, personal injury settlements aren’t arrived at overnight. Your claim could take months, years even. Be patient, do not pester your lawyer, and ensure you have disability benefits or some kind of benefit coming in, so you can support yourself while you wait.
Claims for compensation can be stressful, which is why you need a lawyer’s help. Unless you have experience in making personal injury claims yourself, there is no way that you will be able to represent yourself. Take this post’s advice, find a good lawyer, and be honest with them about what happened.