Sustaining a workplace injury or illness is not uncommon. For this reason, many companies must have workers’ compensation insurance so that employee can receive some sort of benefits after sustaining a workplace injury. When you sustain an injury on the job, this can cause you to need to take medical time off work, go back to work under certain just restrictions, and even force you to transfer jobs if you are unable to physically work in your old position. When this happens, you might not be able to bring in the same stable income to support your family that you had before and you might be hit with large medical bills. Having your workers’ compensation claim denied can also be incredibly stressful, and re-filing can take even longer. So, below are a few simple steps to follow when you file for a workers’ compensation claim.
- Tell Your Employer Immediately. Unless you are unconscious after the accident occurs, it is your responsibility to notify your employer of the accident as soon as possible after it happened. If your employer or manager does not know because you failed to tell them, this can easily affect whether your claim is dismissed.
- Get Medical Attention. If you are not in a state of emergency, determine which health care provider you should see (some employers have specific ones you must visit to make a valid claim) and go there immediately. A doctor can help assess your injuries and document them to help support your claim.
- Detail Your Injuries Or Illness To the Doctor. When you are speaking with your doctor, it is important to make them aware that the injury or illness is work-related and detail the type of pain you are feeling. Additionally, you should provide the doctor with contact information for your employer so that it can be properly filed as a workplace injury for the workers’ compensation expense.
- Ensure You Have Properly Notified Your Employer. Even if you already notified your employer orally after the accident, it is best to have a written copy available for both your employer and yourself to document who has been notified and who has a copy.
- File Your Claim With Help. Hiring an attorney who has experience with workers’ compensation claims can be a great asset to your case. They can provide valuable experience when going over your documents and evidence and ensuring everything you need has been turned in on time. Never underestimate the power of an attorney’s help.
- Complete Additional Paperwork. Filing for a workers’ compensation claim is not usually a one and done process. Instead, insurance companies usually require additional forms to get your claim correctly processed. Staying on top of this paperwork and submitting the proper documents can help your claim process to go smoothly.
Is There Anything Else I Can Do?
Even if it seems that you filed everything correctly, insurance companies can still deny your workers’ compensation claim. This is why having a trusted Milwaukee work injury lawyer on your side can be extremely beneficial to your claim.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at Hickey & Turim, SC for their insight into workers compensation and how to file a claim.