Understanding the Workers’ Compensation Claims Process

Understanding the Workers’ Compensation Claims Process

There are quite a lot of dangerous jobs out there where there is a very good chance that employees might hurt themselves if they aren’t careful. If that has been the case, then the employer is liable to pay for the damages and all the medical costs involved. This is why employers carry worker’s compensation or “Workers Comp” insurance. This covers all onsite injuries or accidents and protects the employer from any undue costs or legal hassles.

Worker’s compensation is a good idea but the claims process may vary from one state to another. In case of an injury or an accident, the employee needs to notify his employer and insurance provider as soon as possible so that the claims process can begin. Even though every situation is unique, the injured party should, and are always encouraged to, first and foremost, get treatment before getting any approval from their employer or insurance company.

The claims process involves two important steps. They are as follows:

  1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Getting the required medical attention you need is absolutely necessary after an injury. This implies to both on site and off site injuries. Some insurance policies might list a specific doctor or hospital that you should see; although in some cases, you are also allowed to get a second opinion if you are not satisfied by the first one.

In case your injury is not severe enough to get medical attention, you might still be required to do so as per the policy. In any case, the medical report can be beneficial as you can use it to keep a record of all your ailments and procedures for your eventual workers compensation claim.

  1. Talk To Your Employer

Telling your employer about your injury is imperative to your workers comp claim. You need to inform them preferably as soon as possible, and certainly within the statutory deadline which can vary from state to state. This is why it is also recommended that even if your injury isn’t serious, you should still notify the proper authorities within the stipulated time period in case an injury flares up after the due date has expired.

Any notification you provide to your employer, make sure it is in written form as this will ensure you have an official record of your request. In turn, your employer will provide you with an official claim form, which is required to get the claims process started. This form will require you to provide the following information:

  1. a) The specific type of injury you suffered, as well as the part of your body affected by it
  2. b) The date and your location at the time of the accident
  3. c) All the relevant parties involved in the incident
  4. d) The exact cause of the accident
  5. e) All the medical aid and treatments you required since being injured

In case you are not sure how to go about filing a workers’ comp claim, you may seek the services of an experienced personal injury attorney who has experience handling Workers’ Compensation Claims.