A work injury in Richmond can alter your life and keep you away from your job for days. The workers’ compensation system is in place to help injured workers. While you cannot take direct legal action against your employer, you can file a claim to seek financial benefits, for which it’s not necessary to prove fault. Even when your claim is legit, you should seek help from an expert. Hiring a work injury lawyer Richmond is always a better way of dealing with the circumstances.
Experienced workers’ compensation lawyers may tell you that the insurance company may hire a private investigator to investigate the matter and find evidence that can impact your claim. The role of a private investigator is to find out whether you have been doing activities that are against your doctor’s orders. The evidence can be used to say that you have exaggerated your injuries or have not adhered to the light-duty limitations suggested by your doctor. Here are some steps you can take.
- Gain knowledge: If you have hired a workers’ compensation lawyer, they can tell you about the laws and your rights, which is the best way to know whether the insurance company has been flouting rules.
- Be honest: Do not exaggerate your injuries when you see the doctor. If the private investigator gathers information and videos that don’t match the details you have shared with the doctor, your workers’ compensation claim could be at stake.
- Keep a watch: As a prudent claim, you should always assume that you are being watched. Beware of what you do in public, and make sure that it never comes off as ignoring the doctor’s advice.
- Talk to your doctor: If you have done certain activities, talk to your injury doctor and make sure that they know about the current symptoms. You need documentation of every detail related to the injury.
- Retain your patience. It can be hard to know that a PI is following you everywhere. However, this is not the time to get into arguments. Act as normally as you can, and don’t try to confront anyone.
A proficient workers’ compensation attorney can help you file the claim without mistakes in the paperwork. They will also see that you get the anticipated benefits, but if your case is denied, they can proceed with an appeal. In other words, you always have a long list of legal options.
