Everybody rushes to file claims immediately but I took 6 months to gather records first

I see so many people in here saying to file the second you stop working, but last year when I hurt my back at a job in Fresno I waited to gather all my doctor notes and test results first. My claim got approved in 3 weeks while my coworker who filed right away got denied and had to wait 4 months on appeal. Has anyone else tried the slow route and had better luck?

2 comments

2 Comments

christopherwilliams22d ago

Disagree completely. Waiting six months is a gamble that could cost you everything in some states. The clock on your potential back pay starts ticking from your last day worked, so every month you delay is lost wages if you win. I know a guy who waited four months to file for a shoulder injury in Texas and his claim got denied because the insurance argued his condition could've been pre-existing since he took so long. Filing right away at least gets the clock running and forces them to make a decision while your evidence is still fresh.

marymorgan22d ago

Does that really hold up across all states though, @christopherwilliams? I've seen plenty of cases where filing too fast just gives them a bigger target, and they nitpick every detail before you even know what's wrong. Sometimes waiting a bit to get your story straight and medical records in order is the smarter play.