This Is PART FOUR IN THE SERIES

A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR RECORD KEEPING

As was mentioned in the previous section, when the basics of the workers compensation claims process was touched on, your work comp claim revolves around the details you provide and that includes to the doctor, the attorneys, the insurance company and the court. Regardless of whoever, is requesting information, and whatever they may be requesting it for, your accounts of the details should be accurate and consistent at all times. This may be the pivotal point in your on the job injury case, so keep this information mind.

KNOWLEDGE: SAVE IT - PASS IT ON - OR BOTH!

article series. Those who have an existing claim or pending claim in the making will benefit greatly from "Don't Get Screwed On Your Worker's comp Claim", not only from one individual part, but by reading the entire series. Each segment is designed to provide the needed workers compensation information for that particular topic, but it also flows right into the next portion of the information, so you can get the full gist of what is being conveyed.

From the first day of your workers compensation claim, until the end of the process, you will receive a small mountain of paperwork. You'll regularly get documentation from your attorney (if you have one), the employer’s insurance company, the treating physician, and maybe even others, depending on the circumstances of the case. It's best to start creating a file right away, so you can keep everything organized.

Try to keep everything in the order that you received it, with the most current information at the top of the file. Whether you decide to separate the items according to who you receive them from first, or merely keep everything together, organize it by the date you receive the document. Make sure you create some kind of system for yourself. (A big notebook with dividers is a good ideal) If you decide to organize the documentation based on who sent it, one efficient way you might arrange the dividers are:

EMPLOYER FILE * INSURANCE CO. * ATTORNEY/COURT FILE * MEDICAL FILE * MISC. FILES

Your file labeled: MISC. FILESwould contain items like a Record of Your Mileage to your doctor, and physical therapist. Keeping accurate notes or a log about your medical condition and a record of your pain is a smart move, and here would be one place you could keep those records. You will also be sending quite a bit of correspondence yourself, and you’ll need a folder for copies of those documents as well. Your MISC. FILES is a catchall for documents such as these, and more.

While this and other suggestions may be a good way to keep up with all the activity on your case, there is no one set way to do this. It’s not nearly as important what your system of record keeping is, but rather that you at least have a system. Find something that works for you, and use that system through-out the duration of your case. If you find something not working for you, make necessary adjustments so you can stay abreast of what’s going on at all times.

When it comes to workers compensation laws in California (and I guess all over the nation), the laws are supposed to be made with the injured workers interest in mind. Although this is not always the case, there is always one person that should definitely have your interest in mind, and that's you!

Whether you retain an attorney or not, ALWAYS REMEMBER, this is YOUR LIFE, not the attorneys. Keep in mind, even if you’re fortunate enough to be represented by someone who seems to “have a clue”, no one cares more about you and your livelihood than YOU! Please don’t take this point lightly. The worst thing anyone can do is step into a hearing in front of a judge or court appointed representative and not know what’s going on. The laws governing worker’s compensation claims and the treatment of injured workers, are established with the employee’s best interest in mind. Most states even provide regular workshops and injured worker advocates to discuss the specifics of a case and assist the claimant in understanding the forms and process. To go to a scheduled hearing unaware and unprepared, with or without an attorney, will definitely hurt your case in the long run. You won’t score any brownie points with the court or it’s appointees either.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  One option that may also be available to workers who have been hurt on the job is to talk to your union representative.  This is one source for help that I decide to go to way too late!  It never occurred to me that they were there for me, and might possibly have saved me a lot of pain and expense, in more ways than one.  The unions have their own lawyers that specifically advise them, in behalf of the injured worker (at least that's how it's supposed to go).  I can't honestly say if they seem biased toward the employer, because I was too late to secure their help (after the settling of my claim), but I say it's worth talking to them.  After all, that's what all those union dues that come out your pay every month is for!

The filing or petitioning of any documents or motions with the court mean that everyone concerned will receive copies. Whenever I had a hearing, even though I knew I’d sent my required responses and supporting documents per the court’s instructions, I took additional copies to the hearing, just in case. There were even a few times the opposing side needed to borrow my extra copies because they conveniently didn’t have the document in question. Trust me on this one, it pays to KEEP GOOD RECORDS and ALWAYS BE PREPARED!

• Carpenters
• Cashiers
• Colfers
• Computer Workers
• Construction Workers
• Couriers
• Drivers
• Grocery Checkers
• Landscapers
• Machinist
• Mail Sorters
• Massage Therapists
• Massage Therapists
• Meat Cutter
• Meat Cutters
• Mechanics
• Pet Groomers
• Tennis Players
• Tool Handlers
• Typists

Individuals who work in these and other jobs that require they perform repetitive actions throughout the workday are a high risk.  If you or someone you know that does this type of work is suffering from the various symptoms mentioned in the video on this page, you may want to start seeking medical treatment.  It may be possible to handle this medical situation before it gets out of hand and leads to bigger problems of both a medical and legal kind.

• Don't Get Screwed On Your Worker's Comp Claim - Part One

  This Is The Introduction and PART ONE IN THE SERIES From the contents below, you will find out why this information was complied and the best way to benefit from the following article segments. You will...

• Don't Get Screwed On Your Workers Comp Claim - Part Two

  This Is PART TWO IN THE SERIES DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO FILE A CLAIM As you continue in this ten part series, by the time you consider this article and the following article about the basics of a workers...

• Don't Get Screwed On Your Workers Comp Claim - Part Three

  This Is PART THREE IN THE SERIES: SOME WORKERS COMPENSATION BASICS When you consider this section regarding your existing or pending workers compensation case files, please remember: if you typically forget or...

• Don't Get Screwed On Your Workers Comp Claim - Part Four

  This Is PART FOUR IN THE SERIES A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR RECORD KEEPING As was mentioned in the previous section, when the basics of the workers compensation claims process was touched on, your work comp...

• Don't Get Screwed On Your Workers Comp Claim - Part Five This Is PART FIVE IN THE SERIES THINGS THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS REQUIRED TO DO Writing this section of "Don't Get Screwed On Your Workers Comp Claim" was particularly hard for me. While I have tried very.
• Don't Get Screwed On Your Workers Comp Claim - Part Six

  This Is PART SIX IN THE SERIES: IMPORTANT STAGE OF THE W.C. CLAIMS PROCESS In a moment will soon find out why this is an important stage of the workers compensation claims process. Things will start to pick..

• Don't Get Screwed On Your Workers Comp Claim - Part Seven

  This Is PART SEVEN IN THE SERIES: WHAT TO WATCH FOR IN YOUR DOCUMENTATION Most people want to hurry and get to this information so quickly that they end up rushing through the other important details. Some...

• Dont' Get Screwed On Your Workers Comp Claim - Part Eight

  This Is PART EIGHT IN THE SERIES: TYPES OF BENEFITS YOU'LL RECEIVE AND WHEN Keep in mind, the information contained here pertaining to workers compensation claim benefits is general information, as it...

• Don't Get Screwed On Your Workers Comp Claim - Part Nine

  This Is PART NINE IN THE SERIES HOW AND WHEN TO REQUEST A LUMP SUM It's hard to believe that while this is the single piece of information that could have helped me in my case the most, this is the..

• Don't Get Screwed On Your Workers Comp Claim - Part Ten

  This Is The Conclusion and PART TEN IN THE SERIES: SEEING YOUR CASE THRU TO THE END! While this article series was created as a guide on what things to find out about that are specific to your own workers...