If you have been injured on the job, it is important that you personally document everything yourself, right from the start. In order to prevail on disputing issues you will want to have more reliable documentation that what your employer and insurance adjuster have.
The truth of the matter is, your entire case is being documented by the other side. You cannot assume that they are accurately documenting the facts, including your complaints, requests for additional care, conversations about your injury, or event reporting the injury itself. It is not uncommon in workers compensation cases for the doctor to claim they were unaware of an injury becoming worse.
What You Can Do
If you have been injured on the job, begin documenting your case in the form of letters from the beginning. Print your name, birth date, phone number and keep a copy of each letter.
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Make sure to give specific instructions as to what you would like to be done with your letter. For example, if you are writing a letter to your doctor make sure to write at the top of the letter "PLEASE PUT THIS IN MY MEDICAL FILE". If you are writing to your employer, you may write something like "PLEASE PUT IN MY PERSONAL FILE."
Again, make sure to keep copies of you letters and keep notes of everything. Confirm what you said and what the response was from the other side. May also request at the end of your letter that if they disagree with anything you've said above to respond in writing immediately.
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Confirm that your injury was reported, how it happened, and what you have been told by the doctor. Additionally, confirm any requests for additional medical care or that your pain is worse due to the employer's failure to provide work within the medical restrictions.
If you wait, it may be too late.
St. Louis Workers' Compensation
If you have been injured on the job, contact a Missouri workers compensation attorney at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann. We have over 20 years of experience protecting the rights of injured Missouri workers. When we take on your case, you can be confident everything is being done to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.
Call (314) 361-4300 to schedule a free consultation.
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