Personal Injury Lawyer

When you’re dealing with any legal matter, there will be deadlines and time limits you have to adhere to in order to receive the most in benefits. If you were injured on the job, you may wonder what kinds of time limits you have regarding workers’ compensation. The following goes over a few basics to get you started.

Reporting the Injury

Every state has a different amount of time they allow injured employees to report their injuries. For example, in one state, you might have 30 days, and in another state, you might only have four days. Your report doesn’t have to be written, but it doesn’t hurt to have it in writing in case you need proof that you reported it to your employer on time.

Filing a Claim

When you’re working with a lawyer on a workers’ compensation claim, like a worker’s compensation lawyer, he or she will know what the deadlines are, but it’s good for you to know what’s happening as well. Again, every state has different regulations that determine how much time you have to file your claim. In one state, you could have up to six years, while in a neighboring state, you could be limited to just one year. There are some exceptions to the rule, so if you fall into one of the following categories, you may have more time than what is regularly allowed.

• You were in a coma for an extended period of time beginning at the time of your injury.
• You received an injury serious enough to warrant surgery or another type of prolonged treatment.
• You were contagious and were therefore quarantined.

Reopening a Claim

In some cases, you go through the claims process, receive compensation and then discover years later that you have still been getting worse and require more medical treatment. If you haven’t received future medical expenses as a part of your compensation, it’s possible you could reopen the case to seek more. Many states allow three to five years for an individual to reopen a case, so speak with your lawyer about what your options are.

Receiving Medical Benefits

You do not have to be out of work for a certain amount of time, nor does your claim have to be at a certain point in the process, to receive medical benefits. If you are injured on the job, your medical benefits begin immediately.

Contacting a Lawyer for Legal Help

While you should have someone by your side for emotional support, it’s good to have someone there for legal support as well. Contact a workers’ compensation attorney at Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt today to learn more.