Article: Your employer and its insurance company will probably respond to your appeal and explain why your claim should be denied. The answer provides a sneak peek as to what their argument will be on appeal. Although an insurance company may the party that ultimately pays out any compensation benefits, your employer always retains a stake in the outcome of your case because it will incur higher insurance premiums if you win. Therefore, your employer will likely be involved at all stages: it will answer your complaint, attend the trial, and have a representative testify. Understand the terminology. In other areas of law, a "trial" and an "appeal" are distinct events. For example, in the criminal arena, no witnesses appear at the appeal. Instead, an attorney writes a legal brief and no new evidence is admitted. However, in the workers' compensation arena, the "appeal" is like a trial: witnesses are questioned and evidence is presented to an administrative law judge (ALJ) or to an appeals board. You may be required to undergo an independent medical examination (IME). Your employer or its insurance carrier may request it. The purpose is for an independent physician to identify the cause of the injury as well as the extent of the disability. In some states, the workers' compensation claims board can request an IME. If you have an attorney, then the IME is scheduled per agreement between the insurance company and your attorney. Though you and your lawyer can object to the IME, an objection will often be interpreted as a concession that the injury isn't as severe as you are claiming. Try to have a friend or family member go with you. By having someone go with you, you will have a witness in case the doctor testifies that you said or did something that you didn't do. Some states publish written appellate decisions involving workers' compensation claims. Kansas, for example, has a database. You should look to see if your state has a database of decisions. Read up on other cases similar to yours. For example, if you were denied workers' compensation benefits because your condition was "preexisting," then you could research any prior appellate decisions that discussed preexisting conditions. A case where an appeal was granted in a factually-similar case is strong evidence in your favor that your claim is valid. Your attorney will be skilled in researching prior decisions. Ask her for copies of any decisions so you can read them. At the trial, you will need to present evidence that supports your claim to have been injured on the job. Typically, the most effective witnesses will be medical professionals who can testify to your injuries and co-workers who may have seen the injury occur. Your state law may or may not provide for subpoena power. If it does, then you can get a blank subpoena form from your workers' compensation board. Serving a subpoena is a way to assure a witness's attendance. Fill in the subpoena form with the witness's name and address. Then fill in where the witness is commanded to appear (i.e., where the hearing will be held) as well as the date and time of the hearing. Mail the subpoena using certified mail. Give the witness plenty of time (at least several weeks) to rearrange her schedule in order to attend. You will be called to testify about the injury: how it happened and the extent of your disability. To make sure you are an effective witness, you should: Ask your attorney to do a practice run. Have your attorney pepper you with hard questions to familiarize you with the process. Review your summary of the event. Shortly after being injured, you should have jotted down what happened and how. Review this information to refresh your memory. Generally, the first appeal is held before an administrative law judge (ALJ) or a state appeals board. The ALJ may call you in for a pre-trial hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to make sure the parties are prepared for trial. If you have any questions, you should ask them at that time. For example, you should ask if the other side has turned over copies of their witness list or the medical reports they intend to use.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Read the answer. Undergo a medical evaluation. Research prior published decisions. Gather relevant evidence. Prepare to testify. Attend a pre-trial hearing.

Problem: Article: Cutting boards made of soft woods split more easily, and bacteria grow in the cuts a knife leaves behind. If you pick a cutting board made of a harder wood, like maple, walnut, or cherry, it will resist being cracked or nicked. This will keep it safe and looking good for a long time. Because wooden cutting boards can't be run through the dishwasher, many sources recommend not using them for high-risk foods. Whether you choose to use all-wooden, or a combination of wooden and plastic, cutting boards in your kitchen, it's important to use different cutting boards for different foods. A plastic or well-seasoned wooden cutting board should be used for high-risk foods, including raw meat, poultry, seafood, and tofu. A separate cutting board should be used for breads, cooked meats, cheese, fermented soy (like tempeh) and washed fruits and vegetables. Both boards should be cleaned after use, and it's important not to mix them up. Otherwise, you run the risk of cross-contamination.
Summary: Choose a cutting board made of hard wood. Practice good food safety.

Although your behavior is certainly a big part of who you are, it isn't everything and doesn't point to everything you're capable of doing. Think about great artists, athletes, musicians, and business people who started out small and may have been rejected at first. Your sense of self doesn't need to depend entirely on your current or past behavior. Instead of taking criticism as a personal attack on your worth as a person, think of it as localized to the particular action being discussed. If you're being criticized for writing a bad essay, consider the fact that with practice you could write a better essay. Accept the criticism without over-generalizing. Be generous about the other person's intent. They may actually want to offer constructive criticism and help you do a better job in the future. After hearing them out, you can assess whether their intentions are good or if they're simply attacking you. If it's an attack, you can simply disregard what they're saying. Avoid taking "good" criticism personally. Receiving constructive criticism is actually an important part of learning how to improve your abilities. For example, if you are taking an English class and the teacher points our an error in your writing, thank her for her input, which will help you become a better writer. Research shows that the ability to be vulnerable is tied to being successful and happy. Being willing to listen to criticism is an important form of vulnerability. If the criticism is targeted toward a specific behavior and you do see room for improvement, be thankful for the attention brought to your performance, so that you can correct the mistake. Criticism can actually contain gifts that lead to a better version of yourself, even if the person's intentions aren't kind. Be patient with yourself. Self-improvement can be a powerful force in your life, but self-compassion is an essential component to positive growth. Practice makes perfect, so consider this experience an opportunity to hone your criticism-handling skills. Thank the person for giving you an occasion to practice the behaviors listed in this guide. Only thank the person if it's genuine! Sarcasm may feel satisfying in the moment, but it's a hostile mode of communication that's frequently perceived as negative and can create additional friction between you.
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One-sentence summary --
Separate yourself from the criticism. Hear the person out. Do better next time. Use the experience to grow.