In 2019, the annual percent of workers’ compensation insurance increased by 7.3%. Companies are putting more into insurance to help their employees when they get injured at work, but this does not mean claims will always get approved. To ensure you aren’t denied when filing a workers’ compensation claim, you need to follow the right steps.
Read on to learn about five steps you need to take if you get injured on the job.
- Report the Injury ASAP
When you get injured on the job, the first thing you must do is report the injury as soon as possible. This is the most important step because claims are more likely to get denied if the injury was not reported right away.
- Inform Your Health Care Provider
Being injured at work should also involve your health care provider. When your doctor gets notified, it ensures you have someone on your side who can vouch for you. A work injury should always get recorded by your personal doctor and placed into your medical records on the very first visit.
An employee and workers’ compensation insurance company may try to deny claims if the first medical note does not state that the injury occurred from getting hurt at work. In some cases, your employer may offer you a visit with a different doctor because they can manipulate the situation if necessary. Always visit your personal healthcare provider after you get injured on the job to avoid this.
- Provide a Written Notice
Some states require that a written notice of work injuries should be provided on Form 18. Depending on the state you are in, you may have to provide your employer with different documentation.
The forms generally include the injury of the date and a description of the employee injury. The document should include the injury types you had which you can view here now.
Along with the report, this statement should get provided to your employer as soon as possible. Always keep your own copy of this statement for your records.
To ensure you are filling out the documents correctly and in a manner that will make you more likely to receive compensation, you can hire an attorney to help. A lot of times, the compensation claim cannot begin without the written notice.
- Track Missed Work Days
It is important to track the days you are out of work when you are injured while working. Most worker compensation companies begin paying the employee after they have been out of work for seven days. Being injured while at work and being out of work for 21 days total means the insurance must pay the employee for the first seven missed days of work as well.
- Hire an Attorney
If you are injured on the job and don’t want to go through the workers’ compensation process alone, you should hire an attorney. They can help ensure nothing is used against you when you file your claim and more.
Get Started Right Away
If you have been injured on the job, you need to get started on this process right away. Use this guide to understand the basics of what to do when you sustain an employee injury at work. Your best chance of getting the compensation you deserve is through following these tips and hiring a lawyer who has the right knowledge.
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