If you’re injured while working or doing something job-related, it’s important to know how to file a workers’ comp claim. The more knowledgeable you are about the process, the more likely you are to be successful in your claim. It always makes sense to contact an attorney if you’re injured at work so they can help you receive the compensation you’re entitled to. The following are steps you should take to file a worker’s compensation claim.
1. Medical Care
Anytime you are injured, especially if it’s in the course of your employment, you should get medical attention as soon as possible. Not only is it crucial to make sure that you get the care you need, but it’s also essential for there to be a paper trail of how you were injured and what you did as a result of that injury. In some cases, this might mean going to the emergency room. In other cases, your injury might be less emergent, and you can wait and see a doctor or a specialist over the course of a few days. Regardless, you should always make sure you get medical attention if you are injured while at work.
2. Report Your Injury
The first thing you want to do if you are injured while at work is report your injury to your employer. This is a critical piece of the work injury claims process. You need to make sure that your employer is aware of the injury. If you speak with your employer in person, always follow up with an email so that everything is in writing and appropriately documented. In most cases, you are required to report your injury to your employer within a set number of days. The timeline changes depending on which state you work in. For example, in New York, you must notify your employer within 30 days. If you are ever unsure about how much time in which you have to report the injury, contact a personal injury lawyer right away so they can help you find out. Most reputable personal injury firms will offer you a free case consultation, so it shouldn’t cost you anything to get immediate advice.
3. See the Correct Doctors
After you’ve received any medical attention that you need and notify your employer of your injury, you should check with your employer to see if there are specific medical professionals that you have to see. Sometimes you will have to see an approved doctor in order to file for a workers’ comp successfully. Again, it’s always necessary to get everything in writing. If you speak with your employer in person, always follow up with an email.
4. Provide Paperwork
After you report your injury to your employer, the work injury claims process can begin. In order to collect workers’ compensation, you will be required to provide your employer with paperwork. They should make available to you all of the necessary paperwork for the workers’ injury claims process. After filling out the forms, your employer is usually responsible for submitting the forms to their insurance company and the state workers’ compensation agency. You will need to provide information about your injury and the treatment you receive, but the documents you will need to fill out and the exact process that takes place will vary state by state. For this reason, you should seriously consider speaking with a lawyer before you start this process.
5. Wait for a Decision.
After your employer submits all of your completed paperwork, the insurance company should make a decision about your claim. They will either approve it or deny it. The number of days it will take for a decision to be made will depend on what state you’re in. For example, in Pennsylvania, your employer or the insurance company has 21 days to decide whether to approve or deny your claim.