Following a work accident, injured workers are predictably in need of prompt medical attention and income. This is typically a vulnerable time for injured workers, and it is unfortunately also a time that is filled with unreturned telephone calls from insurance companies, leaving the worker with many unanswered questions. In the event that the insurance company does call, they will likely ask for a recorded statement.
Many times, the injured worker agreeably provides a recorded statement to get the ball rolling. However, it is very important to speak to a workers’ compensation attorney before providing a recorded statement.
Contrary to common belief, not all injuries and accidents that happen at work are covered by workers’ compensation. An insurance company may attempt to elicit a skewed version of the accident and injuries to lay the foundation to deny the claim. Then, that same recorded statement will be used to question the injured worker during litigation and potentially at a hearing. Therefore, giving ambiguous or incomplete information in a recorded statement can significantly damage your workers’ compensation claim. Again, before giving a recorded statement, it is important to contact an attorney to ensure that the description of the accident and all other facts are clearly and accurately presented.
If you have questions about these issues or anything else related to your workers’ compensation case, please give us a call at (804) 294-2966.