ExecutiveChronicles.com | How to File a Workers Comp Claim: A Guide | Working carries certain risks and injury is one of them. While not an overwhelming number, around 2.8 million people suffer work-related injuries in any given year. So, how do these workers get by while seeking and receiving treatment?
They depend on workers comp doctors to help bridge the gap while they recover. If this is your first on-the-job injury, you might wonder how to file a workers comp claim. It’s not like employers offer training on filing the claims, after all.
If you’re wondering about filing a worker’s comp claim, keep reading for our quick guide on filing a claim.
Eligibility
Eligibility generally requires two key elements. First, your injury must happen at work. In other words, you’re on the clock when it happens.
Second, you must operate as an employee of the business and not as an independent contractor. If your employer issues you a W-2 and takes out taxes from your paycheck, you are likely considered an employee.
The term injury can mean a lot of things. For a deeper look into employee injuries, read on here.
Seek Medical Care
You should seek professional medical care as soon as possible. This creates a medical paper trail that will support your claim later with your employer’s workers comp insurance company.
It also arms you with information about the extent of your injury.
Report the Injury
You must tell your employer about the injury at the first opportunity. You get a fixed amount of time for reporting injuries before you can’t make a workers comp claim.
When you report the injury, your employer will likely make you fill out some forms. At the very least, you’ll see an accident report or incident report.
You’ll also likely see a separate workers comp claim form from them at some point as well. Employers typically submit this paperwork to their insurance carrier and the state.
If the Claim Gets Denied
What if your claim doesn’t get approved? Claims get denied for a lot of reasons, including that some key piece of information didn’t make it onto the forms. In those cases, you can appeal the decision with the missing info included.
If you want to avoid a denied claim, you can look for a workers comp lawyer to help. When hiring a workers comp lawyer, look for one who specializes in workers comp claims. They can also represent you if you end up with a bad-faith denial by the business or insurance carrier.
How to File a Workers Comp Claim? Mind the Details
If you’re worried about how to file a workers comp claim, minding the details is essential. Insurance companies and state agencies thrive on details. Miss a deadline or forget a form and you can expect a denial of the claim.
That also means ensuring that you visit the right doctor, report the injury promptly, and even hire a lawyer at the outset.
Looking for more information about workers comp claims or management tips? Check out the posts in the Best Practices area of our Business section.
