Have you fallen victim to an accident at work? Has it rendered you seriously injured and unable to do your job? If this is the case then you’re probably worried about your medical bills, how you’re going to support your family and if your life will ever be the same again. It’s a worrying time, but if you’ve been injured at work you might want to consider compensation through your workers’ compensation rights.
Read on to find out how you can claim compensation after an injury at work.
When should a claim take place?
If your injuries were sustained whilst at work, either on work premises or as a result of completing tasks for your employer, then you will be able to claim. Assuming that one of the following applies to you and your employer:
- You are an employee of the business
- You were injured whilst working
- Your employer has workers compensation
What isn’t covered?
Of course, some injuries won’t qualify for workers’ compensation. They include the following:
- Injuries that have occurred whilst under the influence of drink or drugs
- Self-inflicted injuries
- Stress
- Injuries that have occurred during your morning/evening commute to work
How do I start the claim?
In order to file the claim, you need to report your injury to your employer. To do so you’ll need a medical report which you can obtain from your doctor or the medical team at the hospital if the incident was an emergency. You’ll need to report the injury to your employer as soon as possible in order to claim, and the deadlines will vary per state.
Your employers next steps
Once you have filed in writing and provided a medical report, your employer will then provide you with the appropriate forms so you can go ahead with your claim. This includes information regarding your rights. Information about returning to work and also relating to any other benefits. If your employer fails to comply with these procedures then you could potentially file a lawsuit against them.
Once all of the paperwork is in place, your employer will send all the relevant information to the insurance provider.
The provider will approve or deny your claim
You’ll now need to wait for the insurance company to either approve or reject your claim. If the claim is approved then you’ll get the compensation you are entitled to. You will be compensated for a particular amount and it is your choice to accept or decline the amount. The amount of compensation you have been awarded will be determined by the injury you have sustained.
This settlement should cover:
- Medical bills
- Treatments
- Medicines
- Disability assistance
- Lost wages
You could even potentially negotiate a larger sum (speak with your attorney).
Like with any insurance claim, there is a possibility of your claim being rejected. If this is the case then you have the following options:
- Your employer can ask the insurance company on your behalf to review their decision.
- You can appeal.
For more great tips in the workplace, check out the other blogs on Career Geek.
