Suffering an injury on the job can change your life. You may be unable to work or perform normal daily functions due to the injuries you sustained. Fortunately, workers compensation is designed to provide you with compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and any injuries you sustain. Unfortunately, getting the benefits you are entitled to is not always easy.
If you have been injured on the job, you may be considering hiring a workers compensation lawyer to help you get the benefits you are entitled to. Before hiring a lawyer, you should have a consultation with the attorney to help you find the one that is best for you. During this consultation, the lawyer may ask you to supply them with information. Here is a list of items you should bring to your consultation with a workers compensation lawyer and why the lawyer will want to have this information.
Paperwork From Your Employer
When you are injured on the job, it is important to report your injuries to your employer as soon as possible. If you fail to do so, you may lose your right to file a claim.
After reporting your injuries, you must keep track of exactly who you spoke to within your company and when. In some cases, your employer may provide you with paperwork. This paperwork may detail who you spoke to, what you stated your injuries were, an accident report, and/or whether the employer told you which doctor or medical group to be treated by. Be sure to bring all of this information with you to your consultation so an attorney can ensure the accident was reported and the case was properly handled by your employer.
Letters From the Insurance Company
Once you have reported your injuries to your employer, they are supposed to report your case to their workers compensation insurance company. When this happens, the insurance company may begin to contact you and send you letters. Always be sure to document what contact the insurance company had with you, including phone calls. It is important for an attorney defending you to know exactly what types of contact the insurance company has had with you and whether they sent letters as required by law, including delays, denials, and acceptance letters.
All of Your Medical Report and Appointment Information
When you meet with a workers compensation attorney, it is important that you bring along all of your medical report information in regards to the injuries you sustained. You want to be able to show the attorney what doctors you have met with, when you met with them, and what your diagnosis is. Your injuries and how quickly they were treated impact your workers compensation case and what you may be entitled to.
Witness Information
Lastly, be sure to bring along witness information when you have a consultation with a workers compensation attorney. In some cases, your coworkers or supervisors may have witnessed the incident that led to your injuries. Having witnesses is important, especially if the insurance company is trying to deny liability for the accident.
If witness statements were completed, bring those along with you. If they were not completed, be sure to have the name, phone number, and email address of the people who witnessed the accident. If there were cameras recording, be sure to let the attorney know this as well, as they can possibly subpoena your company to gain access to this footage.
If you have been injured on the job in the greater Phoenix, Flagstaff, Scottsdale, Tucson, and Prescott Valley, Arizona area, Matt Fendon Law Group can help you with your workers compensation case. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation or case evaluation.
