If you’ve been injured in a workplace accident, workers’ compensation benefits can provide a valuable financial lifeline while you’re unable to work. Unfortunately, there are many points in the workers’ compensation process where a mistake can hurt your claim, resulting in reduced benefits or denials.
The Oklahoma workers’ compensation lawyers at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons understand how critical it is to get the benefits you’re entitled to after a workplace injury. Keep reading to learn the most common workers’ compensation mistakes people make and how to avoid them.
Workers’ Compensation Mistakes to Avoid
Many clients come to Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons after being denied workers’ compensation benefits. Over the past 30 years, we’ve helped with thousands of claims.
Here are the common errors we’ve spotted:
- Not seeking help from a workers’ comp lawyer – The best way to avoid workers’ compensation mistakes is to seek help from a workers’ comp attorney in Oklahoma before filing your claim. An experienced lawyer can guide you through every step of the claims process and protect your right to benefits.
- Reporting the injury too late – If you wait too long to report your injury to your employer, you may run into issues with Oklahoma’s statute of limitations, which can cause your claim to be delayed or denied.
- Lying about your injuries – Never lie about injuries you experienced. A doctor will be able to tell if you’re untruthful. Once that’s reported to the workers’ compensation insurer, your claim will be in trouble, even if you did suffer genuine injuries.
- Exaggerating your injuries – Injured workers sometimes feel tempted to exaggerate the extent of their injuries to increase the amount of benefits they receive. This almost always backfires. Your claim will be in jeopardy once your employer or the insurance company hears about your exaggerations.
- Not stating the full extent of your injuries – You shouldn’t lie or embellish your injuries, but you also shouldn’t understate their severity. Be thorough when discussing your injuries with the doctor to get proper treatment and improve your chances of receiving maximum benefits.
- Not following doctor’s orders – You need to follow your doctor’s treatment plan exactly. If you skip appointments or fail to refill medications, your benefits could be stopped or denied.
- Saying too much to an insurance adjuster or third-party administrator – Be careful when talking to your employer’s workers’ compensation provider, as they have a major role in determining what benefits you receive (if any). They will look for any reason to minimize their payment to you, so your words matter. Hiring a workers’ compensation lawyer can help you avoid costly mistakes.
- Signing an agreement without talking to an attorney – You’ll face intense pressure to accept a quick agreement with your employer or their insurance carrier. But you need to look out for your best interests. An attorney from Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons can review any workers’ compensation offer you receive to make sure you are treated fairly.
Contact an Oklahoma City Workers’ Compensation Attorney
At Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, our Oklahoma City workers’ compensation lawyers understand that every penny counts when a job injury keeps you from working. Let us help you navigate the workers’ compensation process and avoid errors that could hurt your case. Contact our office for a free initial consultation to learn more about how we can help you with your workers’ compensation claim.
We are Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, a legal firm that, for decades, has been fighting for the rights of hardworking Oklahoma residents. Our mission is to hold the powerful accountable.
