One:

•Immediately Report Injury.It is important to make an immediate report of your injury as soon as it occurs.  That is true regardless of how minor your injury may seem.  Over time an injury may worsen.  However, if you fail to make a report, you may lose your right to seek workers' compensation benefits.  Any type of injury caused or exacerbated by your employment may be compensable.  It may include something as simple as a back injury from carrying a brief case into work or out of work.  It also  would include head injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia and almost any injury that is work related.   Wherever possible, make your report in writing and save a copy of that report.  If your employer does not make a written report, you should do so and submit it to your supervisor.

Two:

•Reduce Summary to Writing.immediately after the accident commit your  summary of the incident to writing for an attorney that your retain to review.  The summary should include the date and time of the incident, with whom your report of the injury was made, and the limitations that the injury has caused.   If you fail to notify your employer you may lose the right to claim workers compensation benefits.

Three:

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Seek Immediate Medical Care.After you are injured you should seek immediate medical care.  When meeting with the medical health professional, you should make it known that the injury was incurred at work.  The cause will be recorded as part of the medical record further documenting your case.  The longer the delay in seeking treatment after you are injured, the more difficult it may be to tie that injury to your employment.

Four:

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Continue with Medical Care.Follow up to treatment including any rehabiltation should occur on a regular basis after the initial treatment.  Any lapse in care may also make it difficult to tie any later complication of  re-injury to your employment.prove that you were injured on the job.

Five:

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Maintain Calendar of Medical Treatment.You should write down on a calendar the dates and times that you appear for medical treatment.  Your records should indicate the date, time, location and medical professional that you saw.  It us also important to include in your records any mileage to and from your medical care providers  Your mileage is compensable by workers' compensation insurance.

Six:

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Maintain List of Medical Providers.It is important to keep a clear list of the names and addresses of medical care providers.  This information will be provided to your workers' compensation attorney to acquire all treatment records.

Seven:

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Maintain Medical Records.Save any medical records that you receive including copies of any medical bills, summaries, or treatment records.

Eight:

•Maintain Workers Compensation Records.You should retain any and all records related to your workers' compensation claim.  This includes any forms, letters, mileage or medical bills.

Nine:

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Consult an attorney.Often the sooner that you consult with an experienced workers' compensation attorney the better.  A workers' compensation attorney will work to  protect your rights and your future.