Injured on the Job?: Oregon Workers Compensation Law

By: Casey Gibbens, Attorney at Law

Injured workers in Oregon experience some of the toughest hurdles. When you know you have been hurt on the job, tell your employer promptly. Get medical attention promptly. You may choose your own medical provider. Do not allow anyone to pressure you into failing to promptly report your injury "EXACTLY" as it happened! Good cases are often lost because a worker did not speak up immediately or are confused by their employer.

 

If your claim is denied, the notice should contain a strict time limit to appeal. If you miss this deadline, you most likely will be barred from appealing.

 

If your claim is accepted and when your claim is closed, you will receive a notice awarding permanent partial disability benefits. This notice should also contain a strict time limit to appeal. Again, you must act within this time limit to avoid losing the opportunity to increase an insufficient award.

 

Hiring an attorney to represent you from the beginning of your workers compensation claim can be beneificial.  The claims representative's job is to minimize the expense of a workers compensation claim for their company.  This is never in the worker's best interest and many benefits have been lost by workers not adequately represented.

For More information on Workers Compensation issues, please call our office or email Casey Gibbons.