Work Comp: Winning often comes down to one thing. / Ganar a menudo se reduce a una cosa.

Often, the single most important document in every workers’ compensation claim in the first medical visit.  Most of the time this visit is before the client sees a lawyer.  Many times it is before the client even tells the employer they’re injured.  The history given to the doctor by the patient is, frequently, the most important document in every  work comp claim.  I have seen more cases destroyed/lost because the client sees a doctor and says that their back/knee/hand is hurt, but fails to mention it is due to a work related injury.  Sometimes the client doesn’t even know for sure that work was the cause (repetitive trauma injuries, aggravations of preexisting conditions).  Often times the doctor or the medical assistant takes down an incomplete version of what happened.  Or sometimes, the doctor doesn’t take down the history at all.  I have heard doctors (particularly surgeons) say that how someone was injured isn’t very important to them, so the history isn’t very important.  If you are hurt at work or have a pre-existing condition that is aggravated by work, then you must give an accurate, detailed history of that injury to your doctor at the first visit or as soon as possible! It looks really suspicious if the first time you give a history of a work related injury on the third or fourth visit.  It looks incredibly suspicious if the first time you give a work related accident history is after you’ve hired a lawyer. 

A serious workers’ compensation claim impacts every aspect of your life.  Don’t wait to get treatment.  Don’t wait to tell your employer.  Don’t wait to hire an aggressive, experienced law firm.  Call Keith Short and Associates, 618-254-0055 or visit us at www.siltrial.com.