The thing about working outside your home is that you could end up facing injury while on the job. Hopefully your job isn’t all that dangerous, but if it is, worker’s compensation is there for you. Every state has different requirements and aspects of worker’s compensation, but to help you at least have an idea of what to expect should you deal with an injury and need to obtain it, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Report incident ASAP
One of the most important things to think about when you get injured at work is that you want to report it ASAP. The fact of the matter is that if it’s not reported in an appropriate amount of time, you may not get the approval of your claim that you want.
Keep in mind that the process is lengthy and takes time, with your claim needing to be verified and things like independent medical exams, so it’s in your best interest to get things going right away.
Make sure you’re filling out all the required paperwork
There is a variety of paperwork that goes into getting worker’s comp, so take time to research what you need to compile so you don’t miss anything important that could impact the outcome of your claim. Talk to your employer about what is required in your state so that you can make sure you’re taking care of the right paperwork.
You may just need to fill out a claim form, or maybe you’ll also need an initial injury report. In some companies, this type of information is provided upon hiring, while in others, you may need to reach out to your boss to find out the details. It could be a good idea to learn about this stuff before ever facing an injury.
Encourage your employer to get the ball rolling
At the end of the day, the person who needs to make it happen will be your employer. While your employer should be on top of this because it’s something they have to do, it doesn’t hurt to check in with them to make sure it’s being taken care of.
This is important, as in many places, your employer may only have a week to submit it, so if you want to make sure it’s taken care of, don’t be afraid of checking in with your employer. When in doubt, take time to research how much time is allowed in your specific state so you can be sure to not miss the window for filing your claim.
Wait patiently for your claim to be approved or denied
Once your claim has been filed, you may be impatient to find out whether it’s approved or denied. However, keep in mind that these processes take time. In some cases, it may take a few weeks to a month for you to get your answer. Don’t be ashamed of checking in with the adjuster, as things may come up and they could require more information to process everything.
And if denied, what then?
If your claim is denied, you could just let it be and figure things out on your own. There are a number of reasons why this may happen, but if you really feel like you’re entitled to workers’ compensation, don’t be afraid of requesting more information or asking for a reconsideration.
You could also go through your state’s commission and get a formal appeal underway so that you can push the claim through towards approval. Consider working with a lawyer who specializes in workers’ compensation situations if you feel like you need further support with your claim.
In Conclusion
You should get the help you deserve when injured on the job, so take time to research workers’ compensation and talk to your employer about how they handle situations with injuries.