If you've been injured on the job, workers compensation insurance is there to take care of your medical and financial needs. You might not be aware of what you need to do once you've been injured. Unfortunately, that can come back to hurt you later on, especially if you're having trouble receiving the benefits you're entitled to. When you're injured on the job, what you do after the injury is extremely important. Here are some things you should remember that will help you receive the benefits you need when you're unable to work.

Don't Just Report the Big Injuries

You might think that you only need to report the big injuries. However, even small injuries can end up causing you serious problems. If you've been injured on the job, you need to report the injuries, even if you think they're small. Even a small burn can end up with an infection that may require treatment. If you haven't reported the injury, you'll have a difficult time receiving treatment for it. Regardless of how small it is, if you've been injured on the job, you need to report it to your employer.

Be Sure to See the Company Doctor

If you have a family physician, you may be tempted to visit them for your work-related injuries. Unfortunately, choosing your family doctor may leave you without coverage for that visit. In most cases, workers compensation insurance will only cover treatment that's provided by their designated physicians.

That doesn't mean you can't see your primary care physician on your own. It just means that workers compensation won't pay for the cost. Go ahead and schedule an appointment with your family physician for a second opinion and to keep them up-to-date on your injuries. However, stick to your workers compensation doctors for treatment of your injuries.

Go Into Details about Your Injuries

Each time you visit the doctor, it's important that you give as many details as you can. You may want to make the visit as short as possible, but that could prevent you from receiving the care and treatment you need. If you want to save time at your appointment – and still provide details – make notes prior to your visit. Once you're with the doctor, you can give them the list of symptoms you've written down.  Be sure to include the following information in your notes.

• All body parts affected by your injuries
• Pain levels associated with each area of your body
• Weaknesses or limitations you're experiencing

You've been injured in a work-related accident. Don't take chances with your workers compensation benefits. The information provided here will help you get the benefits you need while you recover from your injuries. If you're having trouble receiving care for your work-related injuries, be sure to sit down with a workers compensation attorney, such as Neifert Byrne & Ozga, as soon as possible. They'll be able to help you get the benefits you're entitled to.