You have probably heard the expression: “Good things come to those who wait”. Most of the time, that is good advice. But, when you have been injured or are disabled, waiting is almost never a good idea. Here are some reasons why you should not wait:
Waiting causes you to miss deadlines and lose your rights
If you wait, you could lose your rights. In every area of the law, there are deadlines. Missing these deadlines that can cause you to lose your rights completely. It is very important to know these deadlines so you do not miss them.
After an injury at work, you only have 30 days to notify your employer of an injury. If you don’t you may completely lose your claim. You also usually only have one year to file a workers’ compensation claim. There are also deadlines for filing a lawsuit in your your personal injury claim and for appealing decision in veterans disability benefits claims. If you have concerns about these deadlines, the best thing to do is to talk to an attorney. One of our attorneys would be happy to talk to you if you have questions.
Even if you do not lose your whole claim, waiting often causes you to lose your right to some benefits
Many veterans wait a long time before they file with VA. We understand some of the reasons why they do this. They have heard how much of a nightmare it is to deal with VA.
But waiting to file your claim just hurts you and helps VA. You have to file a claim or a notice of intent to file a claim in order to protect your benefits. When you wait to file a claim, you give up benefits to which you were entitled. You should go ahead and file your claim and then get assistance if you need help.
Waiting to see a doctor can hurt you even more
Waiting to go to the doctor after an injury is also a bad idea. If you have a serious injury, you need to get medical treatment quickly. Doing so will probably lead to a better recovery from your injury.
Waiting to see the doctor also gives the insurance company a potential reason to fight your case. In workers’ compensation cases, insurance companies often try to claim that your injuries were not caused by the accident at work. If you wait weeks or months before going to the doctor, this makes it that much easier for the insurance company to deny your case. If you do not wait to see the doctor, your injuries will be better documented.
You need to know what you are doing, so you should not wait to learn your rights
You will almost never be treated fairly if you do not know how you should be treated. The insurance company has adjusters, case managers, nurses and attorneys working for them. They are trained to save the insurance company money. They know the laws and they try to use them to their advantage. You need to know your rights or have someone representing you who does.
It is never too early to start learning about your rights. If you want to do so, you can read some of the articles on our blog. But one of the best ways is to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys to get your questions answered. To set up a free consultation, just call the phone number or complete the “Need Help” form on this page.
