If you have been injured at work, or if you have been diagnosed with an occupational disease, you will file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Just like any other insurance claim, your employer’s insurer will ask you to sign a medical release, so they can access your medical records. When they access your records, they are checking to see the severity of your condition and if it was work-related. They might also want to see your past medical records to determine if there is a way that your work-related claim could have been a pre-existing condition that they are not liable for covering. Signing the Release Usually, you will have to sign a release for your medical bills to be covered by insurance. Even your health insurance company periodically reviews your medical records before covering the bills. However, when a workers’ compensation claim is involved, you should consult with your workers’ compensation attorney before you sign anything or provide any recorded statements. An attorney will review the release and make sure that the insurance company is only getting access to the records that they need for the timeframe that they need. You want to make sure your rights and interests are protected, so consult with a lawyer before agreeing to anything. Your Medical Records Your medical records are the key to your workers’ compensation claim. The nature of your injury, its severity, and how it happened are all decision makers in whether your claim gets approved. The insurance company will have to review your records, but your attorney should get the chance to review them as well. That way, any discrepancies or issues with them can be properly addressed. Workers’ compensation attorneys understand how the claims process works and how evidence and records can be viewed by insurance companies. A lawyer will make sure your records are accurate and that any questionable areas are properly addressed, so your claim can progress as it should. The Accident Report Your employer will need to complete an accident report, which will detail your accident and how you were injured. You will have to give a statement regarding what happened. You should be consistent when providing these details. You will need to tell the doctor the same specifics, because when he or she takes notes for your medical records, those details will be included. They will also check to make sure your specific kind of injury could have resulted from that kind of accident and the scenario that you explained. Consult With a Workers’ Compensation Attorney If you have been injured at work, be sure to consult with a workers’ compensation attorney before you sign medical releases from your employer’s insurer. After all, remember they are an insurance company that is in business to make money. They will not be putting your interests first. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to get your claim on the right track. Time is of the essence, so talk with a lawyer today! Additional Resources Can I Include Ambulance Bills in My Workers’ Comp Claim? How Does an Attorney Determine the Amount of Damages?
