Guide to What You Should Know About Workers Compensation
By Kevin Roach 1. Dont delay in reporting your injury Report your workers compensation injury to your supervisor immediately, in writing if possible. If you wait longer than 30 days, your benefits will be endangered. In your report, describe how you were injured, where and when. Nothing will happen to compensate you until youve reported the accident to your employer. Your employer must then report the injury to their insurance company within 5 days. In turn, that insurance company must report it to the Missouri Division of Workers Compensation. 2. Get prompt medical care You must go to a health care provider thats authorized by your employer. If you cant go at the time they schedule it, notify them immediately. Dont refuse to go, because that could put your benefits in danger. Get all the medical care you need. Dont minimize your pain in any attempt to appear strong or brave. If youre in pain, admit it and obtain a pain prescription. If you state that your pain or injury is less than it really is, your statement will be held against you later, and could reduce your benefits. Get copies of your medical records from the doctors who treat you. This is your right by law, and whoever chose that doctor, must by law pay the cost of making the copies. That will usually be your employer. 3. Call a Missouri Workers Compensation attorney Ask for a free consultation about your situation. You may well need some legal help as things move along. Not all employers are cooperative when it comes to Missouri Workers Compensation claims, and you may need your own lawyer to defend you against other lawyers fighting for their own clients. 4. If your employer is denying that your injury is work-related ask if theyve reported it to their insurance company. Then call the Dispute Management unit at 573-526-4950. 5. Call the claims adjuster at your employers insurance company if you think you havent received all the benefits youre entitled to. Make a note of the adjusters name and what is said, as well as the date and time of your call. Perhaps the problem will be resolved this way. 6. If the problem persists call the Dispute Management unit of the Missouri Division of Workers Compensation, at 1-800-775-2667. They may be able to set up mediation sessions between you, your employer and the insurance company. They also have a phone number where you can ask questions: 1-888-837-6069. 7. You can ask for a conference with an administrative law judge If your injury has led to any permanent disability and disagreement continues about how much compensation is due to you, this option can sometimes resolve things. 8. If it comes to it, you can file a formal claim You would do this with the Missouri Division of Workers Compensation. This starts an administrative law proceeding, where an administrative law judge will have authority to rule on disputes. You have 2 years to do this, from the date of your injury. You can get the form at any office of the Division of Workers Compensation. For help filling it out, and for solid legal guidance from an experienced St. Louis, Missouri Workers Compensation attorney, contact Kevin J. Roach, L.L.C. in St. Louis, MO at 1-866-519-0085 or visit his section on Missouri Workers Compensation on his website. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Roach http://EzineArticles.com/?Guide-to-What-You-Should-Know-About-Workers-Compensation&id=377886 tramadol prescription drug ultram pharmacy cheap order prescription ultram prescription tylenol ultram without
