#1 DOL-OWCP CLINIC IN HOUSTON
#1 DOL-OWCP CLINIC IN HOUSTON
Auto accidents happen every day, but transportation accidents at work are also common causes of work related injuries, especially if you work for TSA or the USPS. Because you were working and on the clock at the time of the accident, you may be unsure as to what your next steps should be. Knowing how to handle the process is important to ensuring you receive the necessary healthcare compensation and OWCP claims. Here are some tips to follow after a motor vehicle accident at work.
The most important step in any accident, work related or not, is to report the accident to police and seek proper medical attention if needed. Go through the procedures of exchanging insurance with the other parties involved and be sure to file a report with the police. For insurance purposes, you will need the name and insurance information of the other drivers involved. Avoid confrontation and let the police handle the situation.
After following all the necessary accident procedures, notify your employer about the motor vehicle accident. Your employer will need to take care of any necessary issues with the work vehicle such as towing the vehicle from the accident and making arrangements for repairs or a replacement vehicle if necessary. They will also want to know if you were injured in any way have migraines, or are in need of medical attention. Your employer should contact their insurance company to file a claim regarding the accident. As soon as you have reported the accident to the police, contact your employer to let them know what happened.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident while on the job, file a federal workers comp claim to receive the necessary benefits. Your employer might be required to cover some medical costs, and you could be eligible to receive loss of wages if it becomes necessary for you to take time off of work due to an injury from the auto accident. Workers comp should apply to an on the job motor vehicle accident whether you were at fault or not. Proper documentation and filing of paperwork is necessary for receiving full benefits. Paperwork that is filed incorrectly could be denied, so be sure to contact someone experienced in federal workers comp and OWCP claims if you work for TSA, the USPS, or VA and are unsure of what to do after an auto accident at work.
Just like the private work sector, federal workers also experience on the job injuries. These on the job injuries can be serious and may require federal workers to file an OWCP claim for work comp benefits. If you are a USPS, TSA, or any other Federal workers and you are injured on the job, know who to contact to receive your full federal work comp benefits. But what are some top injuries that you may have to file an OWCP claim for?
Automobile accidents while on the job may lead to serious injuries. If you have been severely injured on the job, seek treatment from a trusted DOL doctor of your choosing. USPS workers are among the most injured by automobile accidents while on the job. If you find yourself hurt and unable to work, file an OWCP claim to receive federal work comp benefits while you recover.
Slipping on the floor, falling off a ladder, or tripping over objects while at work can cause critical injuries to federal workers such as USPS or TSA workers. You could experience spinal injuries, broken bones, or even brain injuries. Anytime you climb a ladder or scaffolding while on the job, you may risk injury. Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t leave equipment lying around for others to trip over. If you do injure yourself while on the job, be sure to seek out a DOL doctor that will put your interests first so that you can fully recover before returning to work.
Lifting large boxes, carrying heavy tools, or pushing and pulling big objects can lead to overexertion or strain. Bending over to pick up object incorrectly, lifting your arms over your head, or working in awkward positions for too long can cause muscle tension or tightness, sprains, pinched nerves, spinal injuries, or other problems. Document your injuries, contact your supervisor, and file an OWCP claim if your find these injuries affecting your job performance. Know your work comp benefits rights.
Exposure to chemicals, falling objects, shocks or explosions, or getting caught in equipment are other types of on the job injuries that occur. Use caution in any work environment, but should your find yourself injured and unable to work, know your resources so that you can receive your full work comp benefits.
Getting injured on the job and going through the process of OWCP claims can be a difficult time. But, you should know that you have options when it comes to choosing a DOL doctor. Whether you work for the VA or where injured delivering mail for the USPS, you can decide on the doctor that is going to provide your care and document your injury. If you aren’t sure why you should choose a doctor outside the physician that your company choose for you, here are a few reasons.
A DOL doctor that has an in-depth understanding of federal work comp is going to work solely on your behalf. Knowing that the doctor is on your team and not trying to get the best resolution for the insurance company can give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on recovery. When you choose your own DOL doctor, you’ll appreciate they are focused on you and your family, and you’ll notice in the level of care.
Don’t think that only the doctor your employer chooses to handle the OWCP claims has all of the experience. Trust that there are experienced DOL doctors that you can select to handle your care that have experience helping those that were injured on the job. They’ll understand the proper way to document the injury for insurance companies and lawyers, and they communicate with employers and all involved with clarity.
If you go through a situation that requires you to fill out paperwork for federal work comp, then you want to make sure you get the care and support you need to recover and move forward financially. The DOL doctor you choose will have an impact on the outcome, and you should choose this professional wisely.
When choosing your DOL doctor, you can begin with a free consultation to learn more about services and experience with claims. The first step is learning more about your options, and when it comes to your health, make sure you are exploring the different possibilities. You don’t have to go to the doctor that is recommended by your employer unless you are confident that that is the right decision. Schedule a consultation to ensure you make the most informed choice for you.
When you get injured on the job in Houston, it can create a lot of stress at first. And it usually works out that it happens right when you least expect it or when things are chaotic enough on the job. It can be really tempting to let paperwork and “official” documents get pushed off to the side when you have a busy job or need to catch up on other priorities.
But the last thing you want to do is let any federal work comp paperwork, OWCP claims, and other “important” documents get delayed. When working with the DOL and other organizations or individuals connected to the federal work comp program, you want to make sure that you’re taking the time to properly and expediently file any of the required paperwork.
Of course, it’s important to make sure your health is taken care of first and foremost. If you get hurt on the job, don’t jump straight to the paperwork. Making sure you are safe and healthy is priority number one. You can always figure out the paperwork of federal work comp after.
But as soon as you are physically able to work with your supervisor, ACS provider, doctor, or any other relevant individual about the federal work comp paperwork filing, you want to jump on that before it becomes “too late.”
You see, what happens for employees who take their time is that they forget they have to sign and file certain paperwork until it gets to that “too late” period. And if federal work comp paperwork crosses that threshold, you could lose out on the financial opportunity provided by federal worker’s compensation.
In other words, depending on how it’s set up within your company, you could be stuck with a bill, or your company might. And once the supervisor knows that you didn’t go through the simple steps of filing out your federal work comp information, the responsibility falls on you.
Finishing federal work comp forms isn’t hard, even if it’s not “fun” for most people. But it’s important if you want to get the full advantage of worker’s compensation. Contact us today to learn more about federal work comp and the healthcare options you have available to you in the event of a workplace related injury.
Former U.S. Postal worker, Joseph Bouchard from Georgetown, MA, was found guilty of defrauding the OWCP out of funds exceeding $50,000 by claiming reimbursements related to travel that he claimed was necessary for his medical treatment.
An overwhelming majority of federal workers are honest, hard-working people who simply want to know that there is assistance for them if they ever suffer an injury at work. Longtime USPS employee Bouchard, 67, however, proves that some are willing to commit fraud for their own gain and risk messing up the system for everyone.
The story can be read here. It states that, “From 2008 to 2014, while Bouchard was on medical leave, he submitted dozens of travel vouchers to fitness centers in Lexington, Lynnfield and Bedford for dates when he did not actually use those gyms or used a different gym of closer proximity.”
While it may seem like a good idea or easy to pull one over on the government, claiming and receiving money that you are not entitled to amounts to fraud and can land you in jail, with steep financial penalties, and/or probation. Your benefits are available to you for legitimate reasons, but don’t break the law in order to get more than your fair share.
Be honest and use honest doctors that will help you get the medical care you need.
Whenever you have been injured on the job, the FECA (Federal Employees Compensation Act) and their regulations regarding implementation establish the number of weeks of compensation to be paid for permanent loss, or loss of use, of body members listed in the schedule.
However, the FECA does not specify the manner in which the percentage of loss of a member shall be determined. In order for victims to receive consistent payouts and ensure that there is equal treatment for everyone who is injured, experienced doctors who understand the processes related to DOL claims prove to be valuable assets. This helps to establish uniform standards for claimants.
Claimants need to make sure that they have compiled sufficient information and details in order to provide the doctor with the necessary information to assess the impairment sufficiently. This will help to ensure the most accurate Scheduled Award for your injuries.
The doctor will, in turn, provide a diagnosis or assessment that should include any loss of degree of active motion of the affected body part or area, any loss of degree of passive motion of affected body part or area, any atrophy or deformity that has occurred, any decrease in strength or impairment, and or any other pertinent description of the injury and its effects.
All of this underscores the necessity of choosing a doctor that really understands the process of a DOL claim.
In some cases, federal workers have been guilty of taking advantage of the benefits system provided under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act "which provides tax-free benefits to civilian federal employees who sustain injuries or an occupational disease as a result of their employment.” What are the risks to other federal workers when this happens?
A 2014 news story recounts that 11 federal employees were arrested and charged with theft of government funds, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and federal workers' compensation benefits fraud, carrying a maximum of five years. A guilty verdict could result in a dramatic change in life for these individuals.
The USPS is the largest participant in FECA, paying more than $1 billion in benefits annually. Spending this amount of money each year in employee benefits creates an intrinsic interest in preventing fraud. If employee fraud is found to be rampant, it could result in legislation that changes the rules and rule changes often affect those who are in legitimate need of disability compensation more severely than the fraudsters. Federal workers need to be mindful that their actions could hurt others. It is also important to make sure that your doctor is ethical and abides by the appropriate rules and guidelines for disability compensation and treatment. The recourse could affect many who are in actual need.
When an injury happens on the job, sometimes it’s hard to know what to do next. A lot of people are concerned that taking time off will jeopardize their standing with the company or lead to lost wages that are vital to the support of their family.
It is important to understand your compensation rights as provided under the OWCP compensation plan. As an employer, the US government provides benefits to federal workers who are hurt on the job and to the families of those employees who may suffer death on the job. For those who are injured, this includes costs related to treatment, therapy, medications, necessary medical devices, transportation costs etc. These costs may include vocational rehab training as well. Additionally, coverage is available for temporary total disability, permanent disability and even death.
If you are injured at work, you will need to file a OWCP claim in order to get a review of your file. In the case of an injury, you should notify your employer within 30 days and make sure that your federal workers compensation case gets a review with the OWCP. Additionally, an injury sustained on the job needs to be diagnosed by a doctor. Make sure to use a doctor (one of your choice, not the employer’s) that is familiar with the process of handling federal workers’ injury claims to ensure that the proper documentation is provided.
Being hurt on the job can be scary, but taking the time to make sure you go through the proper procedures so that you get the compensation that you need can alleviate much of that anxiety and get you the compensation that you deserve.
