This article was contributed by a guest author. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of Injurix. If you require legal advice, you should consult with your own legal advisor.
Millions of workers get injured at work each year. Some injuries are minor while others are so grave that they can even cause fatalities. But if the fault isn’t yours, why should you bear the cost and go through the miseries?
It is your legal right to claim compensation for your injuries and make an accident at work claim against your employer. But making the claim ain’t no piece of cake. Victims of a workplace accident often take the case into their own hands without having expertise in the field. Subsequently, they either lose their claim or get less than they deserve.
In this post, we are going to share with you the 3 best tips that will help you to maximize your accident at work claim money. We will also unveil a few tips that will help you to make a successful claim against your employer no matter how complicated your case is.
Let’s get started.
3 tips to maximize your work injury compensation
There are a number of tips to maximize your accident at work claim. But discussing all of them is neither feasible nor practicable here. We are going to share with you the crux of these tips and only tell you the hacks that are the most effective.
Let’s uncover the 3 tips to maximize your injury at work claim:
1. Polish your negotiation skills
In other words, you must have excellent bargaining skills when it comes to getting your accident at work compensation claim. But that doesn’t mean you should negotiate like you’re purchasing something. Your negotiation should be backed by the evidence and you should have a valid argument to prove your stance.
The insurance claims adjuster may offer you an initial settlement offer, flaunting it to be the best one for you. But if you are not satisfied and think you deserve more, then negotiate for your right. Present even the smallest expense that you had to bear due to the work accident. In this way, you can maximize your compensation amount for an accident at work claim.
2. Don’t trust the insurance claims adjuster
This one is a common mistake that the victims of a work injury often make. A number of victims even lose their claim money just because they trust the insurance claims adjuster. What happens is that they act in accordance with the adjuster and consider them to be in their favor. However, that’s not true at all. The insurance claims adjuster tries their best to either reduce or reject the claim. For that, they may demand a recorded statement, access to your medical history, or want you to accept the initial settlement offer.
3. Hire a work injury claim specialist
Without an expert injury claim specialist on your behalf, you may win the case but get less than what you deserve. If you want to get the most out of your claim, you should hire a claims specialist. A claims specialist doesn’t just handle all the formalities on your behalf but also negotiates with the adjuster to get you the maximum compensation possible.
Strategies to make a successful claim
Until now, we’ve shared some tips to maximize your compensation. But that’s not enough. You should also know how to make a successful claim against your employer.
Let’s take a look at the top 3 tips for making a successful work injury compensation claim:
1. Always record your accident
Your top priority should be to record your accident. If you work in the UK, for instance, there must be an accident book where you work. Approach the respective manager and ask them to record your accident in the accident book. They may be reluctant to record your accident but convince them. In case the manager doesn’t record your accident, send an email containing details about the accident. This creates a written record.
2. Never forget the witnesses
Witnesses are of key importance when it comes to proving your stance. There is a good chance that there may be some people (such as coworkers or customers) who may have seen your accident. Contact them and ask them to be your witnesses. If they agree, it would be a great help for you in making a successful claim against your employer.
3. Get the CCTV footage
Most workplaces contain CCTV cameras for surveillance. If there was a camera at the place of the accident, it may be a great help in making your claim. It is your legal right to request a copy of the CCTV footage from your employer. With the help of this footage, you may be able to prove that the accident was not your fault.
Bottom line
Filing an accident at work claim isn’t easy. That’s why you should hire an expert injury claim specialist on your behalf who can handle all the formalities on your behalf. It takes months and sometimes years to settle a work injury claim against the employer. Without having expert guidance, you may either lose your claim or get less than what your right is.
About the author
William Harley is an injury claims specialist in the United Kingdom and a member of Lawswood Claims Ltd. They provide injury claim services in the U.K.—including accident claims, accident at work claims, medical negligence claims, whiplash claims and slip-trip-and-fall claims.