When it comes to work-related injuries, the medical bills can really add up. And on top of it all, you’ve also experienced a loss of income from time off work. Follow these tips to help Styka & Styka recover your compensation.
A little organization can go a long way in helping me maximize the compensation you receive for your personal injury or worker’s compensation claim. Your record keeping is one of the most important parts of your worker’s compensation claim. Accurate and thorough records help us not only move your claim faster but also assist us in recovering the maximum financial claim that your injury deserves.
Doctor Visits & Medical Bills
Be sure to keep copies of all of your insurance statements and medical bills, including receipts for over-the-counter medications as well as prescriptions. You can send copies of these to us on a monthly or regular basis.
When visiting a physician or medical office, pick up a business card and send it to us along with your most recent batch of bills and statements. We need the names and addresses of everyone who treats you.
For worker’s compensation claims, always make sure that hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, and other health care providers know that your injury is work-related. Give each health care provider your worker’s compensation claim number as well as the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of your employer and the worker’s compensation insurance carrier for billing.
For personal injuries, provide your claim number and insurance company contact information for medical billing.
Call or email me with an update after every doctor’s appointment. Be sure to contact me if your condition changes or you have a change in medical treatment. I also need to know when you are released back to work.
Communicate with Your Doctor
Using a journal to record your physical complaints will help you remember everything you need to tell your doctor since your last appointment.
Be sure to keep all of your medical appointments. If you absolutely cannot make an appointment, call the doctor before the apppointment to reschedule (ideally, 24 hours in advance).
Always be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. If your doctor changes your treatment or suggests surgery, call us immediately.
Recordkeeping Tips
- Send Us Copies—on a regular monthly basis—of your medical bills and the names of any new physician or medical facility that has treated you.
- Use a calendar to keep daily journal records of:
- Lost work time and/or wages. Don’t forget time lost for medical appointments after you have returned to work.
- Each doctor, lab, and hospital appointment on the day and time that it occurred.
- Medical complaints as they occur.
- The date you returned to work.
- Social Security Disability—If you will be off work, or have been off work, for 12 months or more, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Find your local office by calling 1-800-772-1213 or going to http://www.ssa.gov
- Call us immediately after each doctor’s appointment, if you have a change in medical treatment, or your condition changes. We also need to know when you are released back to work.
Cooperate with Your Employer
Don’t forget to keep your employer up to date on your recovery—but do not to discuss the circumstances of your case with your employer or any one else except your doctors and your lawyer at Styka & Styka.
Your employer’s insurance company may set up an evaluative exam. Bring your daily journal with you and thoroughly go over the history of your injury and all of your complaints. If you are released to a lighter-duty job that pays less than your regular job, keep track of lost wages. Try to work out any misunderstandings about your physical condition or your job with your employer.
If you have a serious problem with your employer, be sure to contact our office at (312) 357-8000.
Working with Styka & Styka, LLC
At Styka & Styka, LLC, we work hard to effectively settle work injury claims with maximum financial compensa- tion. To help us successfully handle your case, please do not discuss the circumstances of your case with any- one except the people in our office and your doctors. If you, a relative, or a friend suffer a work-related injury, call Styka & Styka at (312) 357-8000.