Tuesday, May 13, 2008

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

I found some wonderful advice in a blog by someone that was hurt on the job in North Carolina. (please note the link and visit it if you'd like!) I have only edited it to be California specific (rather than NC).

IF YOU ARE HURT ON THE JOB:

__Tell a supervisor immediately.

__Get the full names of everyone who witnessed the accident.

__Write up an accident report.

__File a DWC form with California's Division of Workers Compensation (DWC)

__Follow employer's request (go to employer's doctor, follow rx orders).

__If you feel that you are not being treated fairly, call the DWC.

MAKE A FOLDER TO HOLD ALL OF YOUR EMPLOYER'S INFORMATION, MEDICAL RECORDS, WORKERS' COMP CORRESPONDENCE AND ALL OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION TO YOUR CLAIM !!!

Including:

__Employee Handbook

__All medical screening and job classification tests

__Any awards, write-ups or employee warnings

__A calendar of vacation days, tardy and sick days

__A copy of all memos and correspondence that pertain to you and your job.

__DO NOT write on any of your documents; keep a notebook, or journal, with date, time, names, companies or doctors, nurses etc.

__Trust No One--get it in writing!

MEDICAL CARE:

__Get a copy of anything that you have been asked to sign.

__Get a copy of any papers from doctor visits or doctor's report.

__If you do not understand what has been written, ask someone to explain the information to you.

__If the doctor's reports do not match what you have been told, you may need to secretly record each doctor visit.

California Division of Workers' Compensation:
http://www.dir.ca.gov/ and here is all the contact info.

__If you do not have an attorney, they have a free service called the Information & Assistance Unit that has officers on hand to answer your questions pertaining to the legalities of the WC system. (link to those phone numbers here)

__They cannot help you once you retain a lawyer.

__Unlike other courts, it can take three months to remove your attorney from your case if you are not satisfied with the service.

__Keep a record of everyone you speak with, the time, date, and the reason for the call.

__Fight for your rights to be heard.

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