If you were recently hurt at work, then you could be dealing with some serious consequences. From lost wages to medical bills, there are a lot of different financial penalties that can blindside you. Thankfully, there is a very powerful tool that you can use to offset those costs and receive proper compensation: workers compensation. However, filing a successful workers comp claim is no easy feat, so it is critical that you know what to do. To help you out, here are the keys to any successful workers comp claim:

Report the Injury Immediately and Get Medical Attention

After every serious injury, the first thing that you need to do is report the accident and get medical attention. You should use your best judgment, since not every scrape will require medical attention, but you definitely don't want to end up with massive medical bills because you thought that you were tough enough to walk off a broken bone or two.

Make sure to inform your employer that you are going to seek medical attention, since they may direct you to a specific provider. There might even be medical staff on-site, which can greatly expedite the process.

Be Clear That You Wish to File a Workers Comp Claim

At every step, you want to make sure that you explicitly say that you are considering a workers comp claim. This will ensure that both your employer and healthcare provider properly document your injuries, which can be crucial when it comes to whether your claim succeeds or is denied.

In particular, it shifts the burden away from you, since a failure to create the necessary documentation by either party can open them up to a rather hefty lawsuit. As long as you can prove that you notified both your employer and healthcare provider about your intent to file a workers comp claim, then you have a valid defense in the event that they fail to follow proper protocol.

Gather Evidence, Fill Out the Necessary Paperwork, and Handle the Verdict

At this point, your employer should give you some paperwork and tell you what you need to do. Once you have followed the instructions and submitted all of the relevant evidence, then you will need to wait for the verdict to come in. Once that happens, your claim will either be accepted or denied.

If it was accepted, then you will be informed of how you can receive your benefits, but if your claim was denied, then you have the option of accepting the verdict or disputing it.

For more information about workers comp, or for help disputing a claim, contact a law office such as Freedman, Wagner, Tabakman & Weiss.