20Jan
Types of Truck Accidents

There are different types of truck accidents. These include: T-bones, rollovers, jackknifes, underride collisions, and side-impact collisions. Each of these can be very serious, but understanding the different types of accidents is important for both drivers and passengers.

Rollovers

A truck rollover is an accident involving a large vehicle rolling over on its side. These types of crashes are particularly dangerous because the truck’s center of gravity can move out of control. This instability can cause the truck to spin and crash into other vehicles.

Large trucks and other vehicles are most likely to overturn when they’re traveling on interstates and other major highways. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has spent a lot of time investigating what causes these accidents and how to avoid them.

Drivers may make one of two errors that lead to a rollover: over-steering or overcorrecting. Over-steering occurs when the driver takes sudden maneuvers to avoid trouble. Overcorrecting means the driver makes a change to a different direction, sometimes causing the truck to overturn.

T-bones

T-bones in truck accidents are a devastating, even deadly, way of crashing into another vehicle. When the truck’s front strikes the side of the other car, it forms a “T” and can push the other car into the road, into the guardrails, or into oncoming traffic.

As with any type of accident, T-bones in truck accidents can be caused by many different factors. Some of these include driver error, defective vehicles, and dangerous property conditions. If you or someone you love has been hurt in one of these crashes, you may be entitled to compensation.

To find out if you have a viable claim for damages, you should speak to a lawyer. The right attorney can provide valuable legal guidance and help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

Underride collisions

Truck underride collisions are very common and can cause severe injuries to the people involved. These crashes can also lead to death. Survivors can seek compensation for medical expenses and lost wages, as well as pain and suffering.

Underride collisions occur when a smaller vehicle slams into the side of a large truck. Usually, they happen in low visibility situations. Often, these crashes take place at night or during rainy weather.

Big trucks usually have a high cargo area. This makes it difficult for the car to reach the top of the trailer. It also increases the chances of a crash.

Aside from the cargo in the cargo area of a large truck, there are other factors that can increase the risk of an underride. For example, a driver may be distracted. They may be distracted by their phone, and lose control of the car. Another driver may be too close. Lastly, a truck can be damaged or defective.

Jackknifes

Jackknifes in truck accidents can result in severe injuries. Many victims of jackknife accidents are in need of hospital treatment. Medical records are important in order to determine the cause of an accident.

Jackknifes in truck accidents are caused by a number of different factors. The main cause of a jackknife is the loss of control of the vehicle. Generally, trucks are unable to stop as quickly as passenger vehicles. This causes the trailer to swing out of control.

There are several different ways to prevent a jackknife in a truck. First, you should slow down as you approach a sharp turn. When you approach a curve too fast, you will lose control of your truck.

You should also make sure that the braking system on your truck is functioning properly. If it does not, you will have to brake harder than necessary.

Side-impact collisions

Side-impact collisions are the second most lethal type of car accident. They can lead to traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. These accidents are caused by a number of factors, including a driver’s failure to yield while making a turn. In addition, speeding and driving under the influence are risky driving behaviors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that approximately 25 percent of fatal crashes involve side-impact collisions. This makes them a dangerous type of crash, since they can cause serious injuries, including broken bones and whiplash.

The number of deaths in side-impact crashes has been steadily on the rise, especially among young passengers. More than 5,593 people were killed in side-impact accidents in 2015. However, while some injuries are easy to spot at the scene, others are not.
13Nov
Head-On Collision Lawyer: Symptoms and Causes of Head-On Collisions

If you were in a head-on collision, it is important to get legal help as soon as possible. These accidents can cause significant injuries and damages. It is crucial to contact a head-on collision lawyer to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. In this article, we’ll cover the Symptoms and Causes of Head-On Collisions, as well as some common scenarios.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a head-on collision can include broken bones and severe lacerations. Many victims also suffer internal injuries. These injuries are often worse than injuries caused by a front-end collision. Direct trauma to the chest is common, and the victim may experience broken ribs, kidney damage, or internal organ damage. Further, injuries to the upper torso, including the spine and shoulder joints, can lead to further problems. Lower extremities are also commonly affected, including the feet and knees, and are susceptible to severe injuries, including amputation.

Head-on collisions are particularly dangerous because they crush the facial and internal bone structures of both drivers and passengers. These injuries may be severe enough to require plastic surgery. In addition to surgery, many victims may be left with scars, which may require cosmetic treatments. Other common injuries from head-on collisions involve the lower extremities, particularly the legs and feet. These parts absorb a significant amount of the initial impact, so it is important to seek immediate medical care if you feel any pain or discomfort in these areas.

Causes

The injuries from a head-on collision can be severe and debilitating. They can include broken bones, multiple strains, and internal bleeding. The severity of injuries depends on the speed of each vehicle and the type of collision. In general, head-on collisions result in more serious injuries than other types of collisions. These injuries can leave victims with medical bills to pay and leave them unable to work for some time.

Determining who was at fault in a head-on collision is a difficult task. In most cases, the driver who caused the collision was driving the wrong way and swerved into the path of the other car. In this case, the driver who caused the collision is usually liable for the damages. However, the injured party must prove that the other driver was negligent.

Compensation

If you have been injured in a head-on collision in New York, it is important to seek the help of a head-on collision lawyer to ensure that you receive the full compensation you deserve. A head-on collision attorney will be able to build a thorough case against the other driver, as well as recover medical expenses for your injuries. Although PIP insurance is meant to cover medical costs and lost wages for a short period of time, it is often not enough to cover the costs of a head-on collision.

Injuries suffered in a head-on collision can be severe and require extensive medical attention, making them particularly difficult to compensate for. However, head-on collision settlements are typically higher than other car crash types, and you can get a fair settlement by documenting your medical bills. In some cases, a head-on collision settlement may reach $30,000. However, the amount you receive depends on many factors, so it is important to work with a head-on collision lawyer who knows how to maximize your claim.

Common scenarios

Hiring a head-on collision lawyer is an essential step in the process of pursuing a claim for damages after a head-on collision. This type of crash causes devastating injuries, and the financial costs can easily reach millions of dollars. Of course, this does not even factor in intangible losses, such as pain and suffering. Regardless of the cause of your accident, hiring an experienced personal injury attorney will give you peace of mind and help you get the compensation you deserve.

If you’ve been injured in a head-on collision, you’ll need a lawyer who can prove that the other driver was negligent. Although the most obvious signs of negligence are the wrong lane change or another car’s speed, there are many factors that may affect your case, making it critical to hire an experienced personal injury attorney to sort through the evidence for you.

Contact a head-on collision lawyer

If you have been in a head-on collision, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. This type of accident can cause serious bodily injuries, emotional distress, and financial hardship. It can also result in missed work and time away from your family. You may also be entitled to punitive damages, which help you pay for the expenses associated with your injury.

A head-on collision can be life-altering and permanently traumatizing. To help you recover from your injuries, contact an experienced head-on collision lawyer. A qualified car accident lawyer will help you protect your rights and get the compensation you need.

 
13Nov
What to Do If I Had an Accident

It is important to keep detailed records of what happened in an accident. If you are able to, write down all your memories of the accident, including how you felt and how the injuries affected your daily activities. You may also want to create a file for all your records. However, be careful when talking about your accident to others, since conversations with friends are not covered by confidentiality privileges. Similarly, you should avoid talking about the accident on social media sites.

Insurance companies determine fault in an accident

Whether your insurance company will assign fault after an accident is a complex decision. The process can involve several stakeholders, from the driver and the other driver involved in the collision to the police and the other driver’s insurance company. In some cases, it’s easier to assign fault than others, but the process can still get tricky.

Insurance companies determine fault by reviewing the details of an accident, including physical evidence, witness statements, and police reports. They also use specialized algorithms to calculate fault. Any evidence that was left at the scene will be useful, such as the damage to your vehicle.

Compensation for injuries suffered in a car accident

If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The amount of compensation depends on several factors. First, you must prove that your injuries are serious enough to prevent you from performing everyday activities. Secondly, your injuries must have prevented you from working or participating in sports for at least 90 days. Thirdly, you must have incurred some sort of economic loss as a result of the crash. In addition, you may also be entitled to compensation if you were riding a motorcycle. In New York, the statute of limitations is three years from the time of the crash. This means that you must file your claim within that time frame or risk losing valuable evidence. Moreover, witnesses might forget important details about what caused the accident, which may hinder your case.

The amount of compensation you receive depends on the extent of your medical bills and the financial means of the party responsible for the accident. Medical bills can add up quickly following an accident. However, you may be able to recover a large portion of these bills through compensation. This way, you can keep your finances on track while you recover.

Compensation for lost wages

If you’ve been out of work due to a work accident, you may be wondering how to calculate compensation for lost wages. To calculate your lost wages, you must multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you missed. For example, if you missed eight hours of work due to an accident, you would be entitled to compensation for six hundred and twenty dollars.

The first step is to gather the necessary documentation. A physician’s report detailing any work restrictions and the length of time off is helpful. You’ll also need to provide medical records. This documentation will help you prove your lost wages.

Also read: If I had an accident in Buffalo, NY, should I get a car crash lawyer from there?

Compensation for loss of working capacity

If you’ve been injured in a work-related accident, you may be entitled to compensation for loss of working capacity. This type of compensation helps you replace lost wages. However, the value of your earnings will depend on how far your injury has limited your ability to work. For example, if you’ve been forced to take an office job because of a back injury, you may not be able to earn as much as you would have before the accident. To calculate your lost wages, multiply the number of hours you missed by your hourly wage. If you worked overtime, you should also include those hours.

The first thing you need to do is gather information on how much you lost in wages due to your injury. This information is relatively easy to obtain. Simply print a letter on company stationery or email it to your employer. Include the name of the employee, the amount of pay you were earning before the accident, the days you missed work, and the rate of pay. If you missed a lot of days, make sure to note these as well.

 
11Nov
Things To Know About The Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

If you’ve been affected by the Camp Lejeune water contamination, you have a legal right to file a lawsuit. A qualified attorney can help you determine whether you have a case. The type of water contamination you experienced may affect your claim. Read on to learn about the different types of cases and the potential compensation you may be eligible to receive. If you have been affected by the Camp Lejeune water contamination, you should consult with an attorney as soon as possible.

Cancer

The Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit claims that the toxic chemicals in the water at the military installation caused thousands of Marines to become ill or die. The exposure to the toxic chemicals has been linked to increased rates of cancer and other illnesses, including those affecting infants and children in utero. The water contamination at Camp Lejeune was discovered in the early 1980s, but contaminated wells were left in place for years.

There is no known cure for bladder cancer, but early detection can increase a person’s chances of survival. In addition, patients may be able to reduce the symptoms of the disease through lifestyle changes and periodic screening examinations. In addition to bladder cancer, women exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune also face a higher risk of breast cancer.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

The Camp Lejeune water contamination caused numerous leukemia and cancer cases in military personnel. These diseases have been linked to chronic exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE), a chemical found in the base’s drinking water. As a result, many victims are seeking compensation.

Currently, there is no set amount for the amount of damages that victims can claim for non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas resulting from the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. However, there are some estimates that can be used to determine a possible settlement amount.

Loss of income

If you’ve lost income due to illnesses caused by the Camp Lejeune water contamination, you may be entitled to compensation through a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. This may include medical costs, lost income, and noneconomic pain and suffering damages. Depending on the nature of your illness, you may also be able to recover compensation for emotional distress.

If you’ve been affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you’re not alone. More than 800 people have filed lawsuits based on their health. The USMC is facing a lawsuit for damages resulting from the toxic water contamination. The first one was filed by Laura Jones, who claimed that the exposure to the toxic water at the military base had caused her non-Hodkin’s lymphoma.

Medical expenses

If you or a loved one has developed a serious illness as a result of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. In order to qualify, you must have worked or lived on the base for 30 days or more. The only exception is when a person was on deployment. In such a case, the VA will reimburse the costs for the medical expenses incurred.

There are many health risks associated with drinking water contaminated by toxic chemicals. The Camp Lejeune water supply was contaminated with chemicals like benzene, trichloroethylene, and perchloroethylene. These chemicals are known carcinogens, but the military did not properly treat the water supply, which resulted in the contamination. The chemical contamination reached drinking water, bathing water, and cooking water of military personnel, and even civilians who worked there.

 
31Mar
Throat Cancer Attorney: Why You Should Hire One

A throat cancer attorney is the best person to consult when you’ve been diagnosed with the disease. While the cause of the condition may be unclear, lawyers are trained to pursue claims on your behalf. A failure to diagnose a medical condition can result in a tragic outcome. If the cause of your illness was not properly determined, you may have a claim for damages against the negligent party. A skilled and knowledgeable lawyer will be able to investigate your case and make recommendations that will help you get the compensation you deserve.

You Deserve Compensation

A railroad worker who has been diagnosed with throat cancer may also be entitled to compensation for their loss of income, total disability, and surviving family members. Fortunately, there are no caps on damages under the FELA. This means that you may be able to receive the compensation you deserve. A good throat cancer attorney will be able to assess your case and determine whether you have a case that is worthy of being pursued. A good lawyer will be able to help you get the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to.

An experienced lawyer will know how to approach a FELA claim. Because FELA is so long and complicated, an experienced legal representative can expedite the process. A strong throat cancer attorney can also assist with the litigation process and help you obtain the best possible results. If you’re a railroad worker who’s been diagnosed with throat cancer, you should consult a lawyer right away. A good attorney will be able to help you navigate this difficult legal process.

Dealing With Disability

In some cases, it is possible to collect compensation for permanent or total disability. If you have been diagnosed with throat cancer because of your railroad job, you may also be eligible for benefits for the surviving family members. This is possible under the FELA, which does not have a cap on damages, so it’s worth looking into your case and hiring a lawyer as soon as possible. You’ll be able to get the compensation you deserve if the cancer was caused by the negligence of a negligent party.

If you’ve been diagnosed with throat cancer due to the negligent behavior of a doctor, you may be entitled to compensation for your illness. An attorney can help you fight for maximum compensation under FELA. Your medical malpractice lawyer can help you prove that the doctor’s negligence caused you your throat cancer. If a professional misdiagnosed your disease, you may have grounds for a lawsuit for damages. The legal team will work to get you the compensation you deserve.

Conclusions

If your doctor or other healthcare provider has not detected or properly diagnosed your throat cancer, you may be eligible for compensation. Many railroad workers develop throat cancer after years of exposure to hazardous chemicals. Your Norris Injury Lawyers throat cancer attorney can evaluate your case and help you receive compensation. If you suffer from the disease due to railroad negligence, a lawyer can help you fight for these benefits. If you have suffered from a misdiagnosis, you may be eligible for a medical malpractice lawsuit. A successful attorney can also help you get the compensation you need to recover from a negligent party.
29Aug
What if accident victims do not hire personal injury lawyers?

Unfortunately, accidents happen all the time and in many cases victims suffered personal injuries for other person´s negligence and irresponsibility.

Whether the wounded is dealing with pain caused by a car crash, a slip and fall situation, work accident, product poisoning or similar when other party is to blame, claiming for financial compensation is a given right.

For this to happen faster, more fairly and with the intention of guaranteeing civil rights and benefits the victims are entitled to, hiring a personal injury lawyer that take charge of the case is the best thing to do. Find top rated personal injury lawyers in Reno NV at Richard Harris Law Firm today.

The accident attorney is the professional focused on helping and supporting personal injury victims, providing legal representation and making a case that will prove the wounded deserves a fair compensation for the suffering, pain, medical expenses and more.

But, what would happen is victims do not hire personal injury lawyers? Let´s see.

Misconceptions and consequences of not hiring an injury attorney

There are many mistaken beliefs when it comes to lawyers that make people not hiring them, ending in the worst consequences possible, especially for personal injury victims. Not counting on with accident attorneys lead to:

·         Lose active and objective legal representation

Injury victims are having a bad time, being in pain and suffering while healing. This makes impossible for them to actively defend themselves and ask for compensation claims. Even if they or a relative could embrace the case, objectiveness will be off the table.

Therefore, the wounded need and active and completely objective party to do that, and the personal injury attorney as legal representative is ideal.

In details, this professional will take responsibility in the claim, carrying out documentation gathering, evidence collecting and other task to make a case based on actual facts and fair and real compensation. If not, the possibility of being tempted with an unfair settlement on behalf of the other party´s insurance is probable.

·         Lose negotiating skills

Without legal representation, the plaintiff is in the dark respecting negotiation of settlements with insurance companies.

A personal injury lawyer is trained in this matter, knowing and recognizing the usual moves insurances use to low the personal injury value and therefore, the resulting compensation. The attorney will know when to play hard or soft and negotiate the best settlement for the plaintiff.

·         Highly probability of making costly mistakes

Like any law, personal injury regulation is very complex due to the many circumstances, case characteristics and events that may involve harming incidentals.

Without a specialized attorney, finding a loophole, gap or ambiguous statement can be exploited by the third party´s insurance or legal representation, leaving the injured with low compensation or none at all.

On the other hand, with the support of a personal injury attorney this is a risk victims do not have to take, since they know what to do and will avoid mistakes that could damage the case.

The same thing applies to documentation. An attorney will know exactly which documentation is needed and the finish timeline so it can be issued. Not being aware of this translates into time waste, since collecting paperwork is not easy or fast and mistakes can be made.
28Aug
Reporting Car Accidents To Your Insurance Company

Following a car accident, it is mandatory that you report the incident to your insurance company. This is especially the case in the event that you went through a severe accident that involved injuries and serious property damage.

The insurance policy almost always states that you have to report the accident to the insurance company. Also, you will most likely require the protection of the coverage since this will give you financial aid. If a personal injury was involved and the accident was not your fault, you will also want to contact Washington DC personal injury attorneys to file an injury lawsuit.

Minor Accidents

With minor accidents, many vehicle owners are confused. This includes situations like single car collisions and low speed fender benders. The problem for many is that it is daunting to deal with all the associated paperwork and waiting for police officers is not always what you would like. Even so, it is absolutely always worth it to get the insurance company involved in the process.

Insurance After Car Crashes

When minor collisions happen, the drivers make very fast vehicle and personal assessments. After, they simply agree that insurance companies should not be involved and accident reports should not be filed. It seems that such agreements are very agreeable but they can easily create huge issues down the road.

Avoiding getting insurance companies is done due to different reasons, like:

  • Thinking that insurance premiums are going to go up.
  • Not wanting to deal with long claims.
  • Thinking that it is cheaper to fix the vehicle than the deductible.

All of the reasons are understandable. However, they might not actually make legal or financial sense. For instance, insurance premiums do not always go up and repair costs can be much higher than anticipated.

When You Do Not Report The Accident

One of the main reasons why you should involve the insurance company is that there are several possible car accident injuries that will not immediately appear. For instance, soft-tissue injuries (with whiplash being the most common) only appear days after the accident. You might not even realize you have a problem until weeks or months pass and you face very expensive medical treatments.

In the worst case scenario, whiplash injuries can be suffered days after the accident. When you did not gather the details of the other people involved, your medical care will end up being paid for by you alone.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, it is very important that you report any accident to your insurance company. You might think that this is not the case due to multiple possible reasons. In reality though, this report is a huge protection for you in the event that something bad happens.

Unfortunately, car accidents can cause several injuries that you do not discover until some time passes. You want to be protected and you have to do all that you can in order to safeguard your future. Doing this will allow you to keep your family safe at all times.
26Aug
Analyze These Traits When You Consider Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney

Being involved in any type of accident that was not your fault automatically means you are entitled to compensation. However, in order to get as much as you actually need to cover everything that happened to you, it is important to hire an experienced personal injury attorney. How do you find one who is very good and who will help you get the maximum compensation?

A great thing to do is to analyze some things as you get in touch with the considered specialist. According to Regan Zambri Long personal injury lawyers in Washington DC, the following trait should always be visible.

Availability

Look for those lawyers that are available as you need to get in touch or services are required. Obviously, this means that they should live close to where the accident happened. At the same time, you need to hire an attorney with an experienced and very strong support staff. It is normal that you cannot always get in touch with the attorney but you should still be able to reach someone at the law firm when you need some help.

The best personal injury attorney for you is the one who never picks up more clients than it is possible to service. You can clearly assess this by how fast they get back in touch.

Professionalism

Never hire an attorney that does not act professional, regardless of why you need them for. Your personal injury attorney has to be available and needs to answer the questions you have. Cases have to be handled with the utmost affection and care.

A great way to see if the lawyer is a true professional is to look for passion. When you see this, you know that the specialist will do all it takes to get a good settlement for you, which is basically impossible without being professional.

Approachability

Great lawyers are courteous. They are very easy to be approached. Your personal injury attorney needs to offer convenient and reliable communication options. This is because the feedback that comes from you will be really valuable for the claim.

Sincerity

All personal injury attorneys have to be sincere and frank. They do not offer false hope and do not tell their clients a large settlement is possible unless this is actually imminent. Basically, the best attorney will always be sincere. They will inform you about what is happening and will avoid anything that would cause unnecessary anxiety. While listening to intuition while offering legal advice is a part of the job, the attorney will never offer anything else except objectivity.

Success

In personal injury, reputation is very important. The insurance companies always treat lawyers differently based on how successful they were in the past. As a result, the last very important thing you need to analyze is the past success rate of the considered injury attorney. The best law firm is the one that obtained very good deals for its clients in the past. Fortunately, it is very easy for anyone to check the track record of the considered attorney, which is something you should do.
20Aug
Increase Your Chances Of Winning 18-Wheeler Accident Cases By Knowing This

Every person that is involved in truck accidents should understand how difficult the claim process can be. Unfortunately, these are collisions that can lead to very serious injuries and huge property damages. As a result, it is highly recommended that you hire an experienced 18-wheeler accident lawyer as soon as you can after the crash so that your best interests will be respected and you will get the financial compensation you are entitled to by law.

The Dangers Of Truck Accidents

You just need to know that a semi-truck can weigh around 80,000 pounds and 18-wheelers are even bigger. Compare this with the average US car weight of 4,000 pounds and it is easy to realize what type of damage can appear from a collision. Unfortunately, in some cases, even surviving is unlikely.

You should also be aware of the fact that there are more accidents involving commercial motor vehicles than many believe. In the US alone, there are around 500,000 happening every year.

Truck Accident Causes

Several causes of collisions are possible. The most common ones are distracted driving, reckless driving, driver fatigue, inadequate maintenance, poorly loaded cargo, overweight cargo, defective mechanical parts, and insufficient training. The cause of the accident will influence the options you have available after the car accident.

The Evidence You Need To Collect At The Scene

This is one of the last things you will think about but it is very important to keep track of what happened. In time, you will forget details so collecting evidence at the scene of the truck accident is a very good idea.

The best evidence you can collect is visual. So try to shoot some videos and take as many photographs as possible that show damages and injuries. Also, after the collision, make sure to keep all medical records.

Responsibility In Truck Accidents

When it was the 18-wheeler that caused the collision, several at-fault parties might exist, like:

  • The trucking company
  • The cargo company
  • Parts manufacturers
  • Truck manufacturers
  • The truck driver

When you pursue claims against any of the parties mentioned before, there are subtle differences you have to be aware of. This is why the work of a truck accident lawyer is so important.

How Is Negligence Proven?

When negligence was involved in the truck accident, the attorney needs to prove the following:

  • Duty of care – The point is to show that the truck driver had to respect the law.
  • Breach of duty – Rules were not followed and duty of care was breached.
  • Damages – The injuries of the victim require financial compensation.
  • Causation – The breach of duty is what caused the injuries.

What Damages Are Offered?

In truck accident claims, 2 major damage types exist:

  • Compensatory Damages – This includes things like property damage and medical bills. Also, unquantifiable factors can be claimed, like loss of opportunity and pain and suffering.
  • Punitive Damages – These are rare but they apply when it is considered that the behavior of the defendant warrants disciplinary actions. This is meant to act as a warning for others not to do the same thing.
17Aug
How To Obtain Workers’ Compensation Benefits

In most US states, you are required to notify the employer that you suffered an injury or you became ill in 30 to 40 days after the event happened. If you do not notify the employer, you usually end up denying the potential benefits offered by workers compensation.

The difficulty of the process appears because there are some states where your notification period available is much shorter. To protect yourself from this, you should notify the employer as soon as possible. This will then lead to the employer notifying the workers’ compensation insurance carrier. A report would then be filed and sent to the deciding board administering the workers’ compensation system of the state. Make sure to also notify the HR manager since this will help you a lot during the process.

After the insurance carrier is aware of the illness or injury, it is beneficial because it can start paying a part of your weekly income and the medical bills you have to deal with. The alternative though is that the carrier ends up rejecting the claim. If this happens, you want to appeal the carrier’s rejection with the workers’ compensation board of the state. Such appeals tend to be much more successful when there is an experienced personal injury workers’ compensation lawyer in your corner. When the appeal still fails, the court can be asked to review the decision.

After you figure out that you are ill or injured because of a workplace injury, it is very important to get medical care as soon as you can. This is vital for the compensation claim since you will have medical records available to be utilized as evidence of the injuries you suffered. When benefits are denied, those records will be the difference.

The problem is that in some US states, the insurer or the employer will be allowed to refer you to another doctor. This is for an IME (Independent Medical Examination) to be carried out. This is problematic because the insurers tend to select doctors that they have a working relationship with. You would thus end up with reports that will minimize how serious your illness or injury is. For instance, that doctor might try to identify the condition as being something you already had.

Generally, what is important is to be cooperative and honest. However, when these doctors ask you questions, be as brief as possible. Do not start mentioning the minor issues you are aware of and that affected the exact same body part that the work injury affected.

The last thing you should know is that in some states the impartial medical examination is actually required, not just optional. In this case, the chosen doctor is chosen from a specific list that the state sees as impartial specialists. Those that accept IME from the insurers are not placed on the last.

To sum up, in order to obtain workers’ compensation benefits, you need to go through a specific procedure. This is one of the main reasons why we need to have our personal injury lawyers in our corner to advise us on the best thing that can be done, regardless of the stage of the claim.