5 More Common North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Mistakes
1. Waiting too long to go to a doctor.
The longer a claimant waits before seeing a physician about his or her North Carolina workers’ compensation injury, the more dubious his or her claim may be perceived to be. After all, an employer or an insurer can always argue that the injury or impairment occurred after the fact (e.g. when the claimant was not at work) and therefore that the claim should not be allowed. Moreover, delaying treatment can result in exacerbation of the underlying problem. For instance, if you suffer a wrist sprain and fail to treat it, the favoring that results from that injury can lead to secondary “downstream” injuries.
2. Failing to read fine print of your North Carolina workers’ compensation benefits agreement.
Insurance companies are cagey. They can stipulate that claimants meet with rehabilitation specialists, job search consultants, and other intermediaries as a condition of receiving benefits. Claimants may also be required to make themselves available at certain hours, check in with agents, and deal with what can be overwhelming logistical requirements. That’s why it’s so important to vet the fine print. Ideally, this process should fall to an experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney.
3. Speaking with an adjuster or other insurance company representative before speaking with a North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyer.
In the wake of your injury or illness, you may want to “get through” the paperwork as quickly as possible, so you can rest and heal. However, comments made to insurance company representatives can jeopardize your potential settlement. Don’t jump the gun.
4. Playing down an injury or illness.
Good employees don’t like to complain. They want to appear tough, persistent, and diligent in the face of adversity. There is something to this philosophy. But if you’ve been seriously or even mildly injured at work and you fail to attend to it, an array of problems can follow. First of all, mild problems can get worse. For instance, carpal tunnel syndrome or thoracic outlet syndrome can cripple people, notwithstanding mild initial symptoms, such as tingling in the fingertips and soreness in the forearms.
5. Conflating workers’ compensation claims with lawsuits.
A lawsuit and a North Carolina workers’ compensation claim are not the same thing. You can file a claim even if your employer did nothing wrong (i.e. wasn’t negligent, careless, et cetera). The burden of proof required to collect a claim is much lower than the burden of proof you’d need to win a lawsuit.
Web Resources
thoracic outlet syndrome
what is a North Carolina workers’ compensation “claimant”?
