How Serious Should An Injury Be For Someone To File For Workers’ Compensation?
Michael Babboni
Personal Injury
Workers’ compensation is a program designed to help people who have been injured on the job recover the costs of their medical treatments. However, there are times when it is not filed after an accident because the employee does not feel like their injuries are serious enough. Still, certain injuries start with mild symptoms and develop into long-term issues requiring extensive medical treatment and care.Accident Injuries With Delayed Symptoms
Sometimes, when we get into an accident, we shake it off and go about our usual business like nothing happened. Since we are not in pain, it may not seem like we need to receive any medical care.
However, you should always see a physician for a checkup after an accident as many injuries have delayed symptoms. Those injuries include:
● Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - This is most frequently caused by a forceful blow to the head. TBIs can seem mild at first, but over time they can develop into a debilitating condition. If you have experienced a blow to the head, you need to see a physician even if you have no symptoms.
● Spinal Injuries - Injuries to the spinal column not only have delayed symptoms—a lot of the symptoms are also mild, such as tingling in your limbs, excessive sweating, and mood swings. Getting a diagnosis for a spinal injury is important because the issue is exacerbated by excess movement. If you do not know you are injured, you may end up making the injury worse.
● Whiplash - This is a muscle injury to the neck that can affect one’s ability to move and trigger secondary problems. Whiplash often starts with stiffness and tension and then develops into mobility issues and pain.
Those are just some of the injuries that come with delayed symptoms. Thus, no matter how good you feel after an accident, you need to see a doctor.
Filing A Workers’ Compensation Claim
One of the reasons you should always see a physician right after an accident is because it provides you with evidence connecting your injuries to the incident. If your injuries involve delayed symptoms, your employer may say that your injuries have nothing to do with the accident, so you do not qualify for workers’ compensation. In that case, it would be difficult to get sufficient benefits to cover your injuries.
Furthermore, in the state of Florida, there is a narrow statute of limitations on filing a workers’ compensation claim: two years. That may seem like a lot of time, but you have to deal with the lengthy process of applications, documentation, and fighting for your rights. The sooner you get started, the better.
What If My Injuries Are Not Severe?
Even if you see a physician and find out that your injuries are not serious, you are still entitled to workers’ compensation. Small injuries cost money too, so you have to get compensation if you do not want to pay for treatment out of pocket.
What’s more, injuries that may not be severe now can lead to long-term issues if not properly treated. Workers’ compensation will pay for all the medical care you need to prevent your condition from worsening.
Another key reason people avoid filing a workers’ compensation claim is that it is complicated to do so. If that is the case for you, an attorney like The St. Pete Lawyer, Michael Babboni, can help. He will review your case, handle all the paperwork, and file the claim. That way, you can focus on healing from your injuries and getting your life back on track. Give him a call at 1-727-381-9200, or chat with our team on our website to learn more.