If you sustain a work-related injury or aggravate an existing one while at work you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. But you need to be careful to tell the truth when filing a claim. You don’t want to be accused of workers’ compensation fraud.
Below are some mistakes you need to avoid when reporting a work injury:
1. Exaggerating facts
When reporting an injury to your supervisor or employer, stick to the facts. They will ask you several questions, including how the injury occurred, your symptoms, the condition of the tool/equipment that caused the accident and so on. You should only provide information you are sure about.
Do not exaggerate the nature or extent of your injury or the accident. For example, do not lie about your symptoms to make your illness seem worse or say a colleague was at the accident scene when they were not.
After interviewing you, your employer will gather evidence from video surveillance and witness statements. If they discover you exaggerated a fact, they can accuse you of workers’ compensation fraud and deny your claim.
2. Stating an existing injury began at work
If you had an existing injury or illness that worsened due to your work duties, you may still be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. You don’t have to pretend that the injury/illness first occurred at work and doing so could land you in problems. Be honest and tell your employer it already existed, but certain factors at work made it worse.
If your employer accuses you of fraud, seek legal guidance to protect your claim and, in turn, receive the benefits you deserve.