Common Mistakes or Misconceptions People Have After a Workplace Injury
The common mistakes or misconceptions people have after a workplace injury can affect a workers’ compensation claim before treatment even begins. One of the most important of these is assuming that your employer already knows enough about what happened to you. An employer might not always treat your accident at work and your resulting injury as a single report.
At GGL Injury Lawyers, we can help you address these issues early. Our attorneys focus on documenting your injury, identifying the correct insurance coverage, and preparing your claim so the carrier understands we are ready to prove its full value.
Failing To Clearly Report Your Injuries
The most common mistake we see after a workplace accident is inadequate reporting. New Jersey law requires notice of your work injury. The state also advises you to notify someone in authority as soon as possible and request medical treatment when you need it.
That means telling your employer more than simply, “There was an accident.” You need to clarify that you suffered injuries and that you need medical attention. This distinction can become especially important when an employer already knows that there is damage to equipment or a company vehicle. Knowledge of property damage does not necessarily communicate that you are making a work injury claim.
Understanding the Primacy of Coverage
A car crash while you are performing your job can create confusion about which insurance should pay for medical treatment. For example, consider a delivery driver who suffered injuries in a collision during a work route. In an ordinary non-work-related crash, personal injury protection (PIP) coverage generally pays qualifying medical expenses regardless of fault. When a collision happens in the course of your employment, workers’ compensation is generally the primary source of overlapping benefits.
State law requires that there be a deduction of benefits collectible under workers’ compensation from benefits otherwise collectible under PIP. The state courts describe workers’ compensation as the primary source for medical expenses arising from a work-related vehicle accident.
The insurer covering damage to an employer’s vehicle can differ from the carrier handling workers’ compensation. A frequent mistake that you may make is assuming that reporting the collision or vehicle damage automatically tells the workers’ compensation carrier that you suffered injuries and need treatment. This is another reason accurate reporting matters.
Call To Discuss Frequent Errors After a Workplace Injury
Your understanding of common mistakes or misconceptions people have after a workplace injury can help prevent coverage problems from delaying the care you need. At Garces, Grabler, & LeBrocq, we prepare claims early and build them for maximum leverage rather than accepting less than a case warrants.
If you suffered injuries while working, contact us to discuss the circumstances and learn about your options under the state workers’ compensation law.
