If you’ve suffered a work-related injury or illness, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure you can claim compensation. You’ll need to fill out your forms correctly and provide all the necessary supporting documents. A minor typo probably won’t jeopardize your claim but some mistakes will.

It’s best to hire an experienced workers’ comp attorney to handle your case even though it’s not mandatory. They will help you to avoid errors and ensure you provide the information that’s required. In this blog post, we’ll share some of the things that you need to do. If you have questions about your case, reach out to our Maryland workers’ comp lawyers for personalized advice.

Notify Your Employer About Your Injury

As soon as possible after you suffer an injury or get diagnosed with an occupational disease, you need to tell your employer. However, you officially have ten days to report an accidental injury, and a year from when you knew or should have reasonably known you had an occupational disease. Different companies have different policies surrounding making such reports and you’ll want to make sure you follow your company’s rules. You may find it helpful to familiarize yourself with the procedures before you need to use them.

File Your Claim in the Time Set Out

You don’t have an unlimited time within which to file your claim. If you suffered an accidental injury, you should file your claim application with the Maryland Workers Compensation Commission within 60 days of the injury. In the case of an occupational disease, you should file an application for benefits within 2 years of disablement or when you had actual knowledge of the link between the illness and your job. There are several situations in which time may be longer or shorter. Therefore, you’ll need to work closely with a lawyer to ensure you have the correct deadlines for your case.

Follow the Agreed Treatment Plan

When you see the doctor about your injury or illness, they’ll likely prescribe medications and/or recommend you get certain procedures done. They may also tell you to avoid strenuous activities. You need to make sure you stick to the treatment plan. Your employer and their insurer will look for reasons to challenge or deny your claim. If you neglect to keep your appointments or don’t get your prescriptions filled, they may say your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim. You may be even be accused of completely faking your injuries.

Keep All the Documentation Relating to Your Illness or Injury

Most workers in Maryland are entitled to workers’ comp benefits. You don’t need to prove that your employer was negligent in any way. You simply need to show that the injury or illness was work-related. However, the Maryland Workers Compensation Commission won’t just take you at your word when you say you’re injured. You still need to present evidence of your condition. This helps to ensure you get the assistance you truly deserve. If you get prescriptions, medical reports, discharge papers or test results, keep them in a safe place. The more evidence you have, the more likely it is that your claim will be approved.

Hire a Maryland Workers’ Comp Lawyer

Dealing with bureaucracy can be challenging even under the best circumstances. When you’re ill or injured and unable to work, you’ll be even less up to the task. Instead of waiting until your claim is denied to seek legal advice, contact an attorney from the beginning. This is especially important if your injuries have resulted in long-term or permanent damage. Talking to an attorney in the early stages will help you to avoid making costly mistakes.

Talk to a Lawyer Before Signing Anything

You may not be aware of all the benefits you could get under the workers’ compensation system. Before you accept a full and final settlement, you should have a lawyer review the offer. If you accept a lumpsum payment, you can’t ask for more money later since the case will be closed.

Contact the Team at Pinder Plotkin LLC Today

If you want to ensure you get maximum compensation for your job-related illness or injury, contact a Maryland workers’ comp attorney. You don’t need to think about anything except getting better and hopefully returning to work in the not too distant future. Let us take care of all the confusing and complicated aspects of filing a workers’ comp claim. Whether you’re entitled to medical benefits, disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation benefits or wage reimbursement, we can help. Call us today to discuss your case and learn more about how we can assist you.