What To Do If You Are Hurt On The Job?

If you are injured at work, here are few steps you should take insure you have a successful Tennessee Worker’s Compensation case:

1. Report that you were injured as soon as possible to your employer. In Tennessee, paperwork entitled “First Report of Work Injury” should be completed. If possible, get a copy of your report to make sure you have a record of its completion;

2. Get immediate treatment and continue seeing the doctor until he releases you; The injured employee should be given the option of three different doctors not associated together in practice. The list or panel of these physicians is required to be located close to the employee’s community of residence. You have the privilege of choosing a single doctor from the list provided. The worker must then only get treated from the doctor they decided on and should not see any other physician unless the chosen doctor refers the worker to a different doctor.

3. Tell your doctor the truth. Do not exaggerate your injuries or where they are located. A worker failing to provide specific and accurate information may lead to workers compensation approved doctors to think that you may be lying. On the other hand, it is crucial to be as detailed as you can, answers like “fine” “okay” will not help you doctor accurately diagnose you so that you are treated correctly. Another thing to watch out for is injuries that occur on the last day of the work week. Some people get injured during the last day of the work week but do not inform their employer about it until the beginning of the next work week. Unfortunately, the employers will almost certainly deny the and argue that you were injured on your days off from work. This is why it is best to tell your employer if you receive an injury on the last day of the work week and get treated on that day. Remember you are entitled to choose from a list of several physicians in Tennessee. It may be best to ask people’s opinions or seek recommendations before you choose a doctor. At the very least, talk with the people you work with about any doctors they have seen or contact one of our Chattanooga workers compensation attorney. Some doctors have a reputation for providing exceptional care and others who are known to be poor. There are physicians we know who seem to be reluctant to believe an employee when he or she says they are hurt. Our firm has is knowledgeable about most of the workers compensation doctors in middle Tennessee, do not hesitate to contact us.

GETTING PAID WHILE NOT WORKING

If a physician advises that you not go back to work for over a week, you may be eligible for short term pay for disabled. An injured employee is not paid for the first week of disability. On the day following the first week, a worker may receive a single day of pay. The next day, the worker may receive two payments. A worker may receive pay for a whole two weeks if they are not working when the two weeks begins.

CONSULT ONE OF OUR LAWYERS FOR FREE

Contact an experienced Tennessee lawyer with our firm who knows the Workers Compensation Law. The state workers’ compensation law is complex and can cause confusion. Unless you have a Chattanooga personal injury lawyer who knows the laws, you will be left in the dark as to whether you are being treated fairly.

Contact us online or call us at 800.705.2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.