In spite of your best intentions and proper training, workplace accidents can still occur. Even though you took this position with full knowledge of your benefits, there are several ways in which you could jeopardize your ability to receive full eligibility. If your company is located in Marion County, Florida or you reside close by, it is best to locate an Ocala workers compensation attorney to help navigate the waters of your claim.

Four Primary Mistakes

1. Not reporting the incident and injury immediately. Many workers compensation laws require an employee to report any workplace injuries within thirty days of occurrence. The longer you may wait, the more skeptical your case may appear if legal action must be taken. Even a minor injury may worsen over time, and not reporting the original condition may invalidate any future claims.

• Not reporting all injuries sustained. Although one injury may seem more significant than another, you must report all concerns. If a secondary injury is disclosed later on in the claim, it may appear that the employee is trying to gain more benefits than they are entitled too and it could be considered fraud.

• Refusing to return to work. If you are offered a temporary assignment with lower pay, refusing to accept a job may be considered voluntary loss of income and could jeopardize your workers’ compensation benefits. As long as you make a good faith effort and document how the work tasks are outside your medical restrictions, you may have grounds for appealing the new position.

• Not hiring a lawyer. Even in the event of a small claim, the employer and insurance company will have lawyers fighting for their best interests. Having your own legal representation helps you interpret the details of workers comp laws and maximizes your benefits.

If you have suffered an injury and are searching for an experienced Ocala workers compensation attorney, call the offices of J.W. Chalkley III, P.A. today for a free consultation at 866-629-7511. You can also fill out the online contact form.