This is a phrase heard a couple of times a week on TV but do you think it would every apply to you? If you have had a work-related injury, one of the first items of business for your insurance carrier adjuster is to take a recorded statement from you regarding your injury. We often caution our clients about giving a recorded statement to the adjuster and are present when the statement is being recorded. If you do not have any attorney, you should be careful here because the adjuster will not only ask you about your injury but about prior injuries and prior workers' compensation claims. Take the recorded statement serious as it will follow you throughout your claim. Be sure to listen to the adjuster's questions, keep your answers simple and do not offer any additional information that what is asked of you. If you have any concerns about giving a recorded statement, consult an attorney.

If not, you should visit the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission and read what rights you have. This can help you understand who and what you are up against when you file your claim.

If you don’t know what your rights are, you may accept anything the insurance carrier or their attorney tells you without knowing what is going on and the fact that you are being taken advantage of. Remember, knowledge is power! If you have read some of the details of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act, you can avoid signing documents that you shouldn’t or accepting whatever the comp insurance carrier may offer to you.

If you or someone you know is having trouble receiving workers’ compensation, please call Rutter Mills for a free review of your case.