Being injured on the job can have a huge impact on your life and finances. While most injured workers can recover workers’ compensation benefits from their employer, there are things you may do that will make it difficult to receive these funds.
If you make one of the mistakes below, you may find your employer or their insurance provider denies your claim for benefits.
Mistake: Not reporting the injury right away
After you are injured, there’s a lot to do and think about. You may also be in pain. Because of this, you may not think about the practical steps you should be taking, such as reporting the injury to your employer. In Missouri, you have just 30 days to report your injury from when it happened. If you don’t, recovering benefits will be extremely difficult.
Mistake: Not getting medical treatment immediately
Along with reporting your injury to your employer, you need to get medical treatment right away. This is the foundation of any workers’ compensation claim because it proves the injury occurred and how serious it is. If you don’t seek medical treatment, the insurance company may claim you were not injured or that the injury isn’t as severe as you claim, reducing or eliminating your ability to receive benefits.
Mistake: Not following the treatment plan from your doctor
Once you see a doctor, you need to follow the treatment plan and continue receiving care as ordered. Failure to do this may impact your ability to receive benefits.
To protect your right to workers’ compensation benefits in Missouri, be sure to avoid the mistakes here. This will give you the best chance to receive the money needed to pay for living while you recover.