After suffering an on-the-job injury in Boston, the last thing you need is to struggle obtaining approval for workers compensation benefits. The insurance company will lose money by paying out on your claim, so you can expect them to pick it apart, looking for reasons to deny you.

Continue reading to learn more about what the legal requirements are for obtaining workers comp in Massachusetts and how you can improve your odds of getting your claim approved.

Workers Compensation Eligibility Requirements in Boston, MA

In order to qualify for workers comp in Boston or anywhere in Massachusetts, you will need to be able to prove to your employer’s workers comp insurance provider that the injuries or illness you sustained were caused by your work environment.

You can do this in a couple of different ways, but most importantly, your medical records will need to show that your injury was significant enough for you to be out of work for a period of time.

A common misconception is that you need to have been employed with the company for a minimum amount of time or work full-time in order to qualify for workers compensation benefits. But this is not the case. From the minute you’re hired, no matter what your work status is, if you are injured on the job, you should be entitled to workers compensation benefits.

There are several circumstances, however, in which you may be disqualified from workers comp in Massachusetts. If you were in violation of your company’s code of conduct by working off the clock, for example, your claim may be denied. Other circumstances include being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of your accident, your injuries being self-inflicted, or your injuries occurring due to criminal activity.

Perfecting Your Work Comp Claim

If you meet the eligibility requirements for workers compensation benefits in Massachusetts, you will need to be sure that your workers comp claim is perfected in order to get your claim approved in a timely manner.

First, you’ll want to make sure that the technical details of your claim are filled out in their entirety. This might include your personal information, your employer’s information, when the accident occurred, the time that it occurred, anyone who might have been witness to the accident, and other pertinent details regarding your work injury or illness.

You will also want to make sure that you provide enough medical documentation to support your claim. This might include diagnostic test results, x-rays, hospital records, prescription medications, the outlook for your injuries or illness, and any other relevant medical records that can support your case.

Get Help from a Workers Compensation Lawyer in Boston

If you need help getting your workers compensation claim perfect or have already been denied and are looking for legal representation to try again, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Boston workers comp lawyer at Joel H. Schwartz, PC. You can give our office a call at 617-742-1170 or complete the quick contact form below to get started on your case.