If you get injured at work, you are justified in seeking adequate compensation for the damages. You should inform your employer of the injury, get medical attention, and seek compensation. However, you don’t need to do it all alone.
If you’re new to this and need guidance, you can hire a workers compensation lawyer to help you get your claim ready. Your employer will handle most parts of the claim process. However, it wouldn’t hurt to have someone guiding you with the proceedings.
Here are the various steps you’d have to go through when claiming compensation for work-acquired injuries.
Notify Your Employer
When you get injured at work, you should report to your employer immediately. If your employer is not available, talk to their representative. This could be a manager, supervisor, or anyone in charge who has direct access to the employer. You need to tell them what happened so they can give further directives on what you should do.
If your injuries are too serious, let someone who witnessed the accident make a formal report to the person in charge. Most employers require that you give a written report of what happened. However, some employers accept verbal reports. For your sake and to have records of what happened, it’s better to make a formal written report of the accident.
The sooner you make the report, the easier it will be to make a conclusive claim. You can also gather evidence by taking pictures and asking a fellow employee who witnessed the accident to make a formal witness statement.
Get Medical Attention
Most employers have specific medical practitioners or hospitals where their employees should seek medical attention if they get injured at work. Your supervisor should direct you to the approved medical facility. They should also provide transport to the hospital.
At the hospital, tell your doctor everything about the accident. Let them know how you feel, and report any pain or discomfort. Ensure that the doctor records your report. After the doctors attend to your injuries, ask for a copy of the doctor’s report. This will help you justify the nature of your injuries and give you a better chance of having your compensation approved.
Your Employer Makes the Compensation Claim
After filing your report with your employer, they should file a compensation claim with the insurer. Your employer will disclose the details of the accident, and attach proof that it was a work-related accident. Your initial report and the doctor’s report will serve as evidence of the accident. If you have a witness statement, you can hand it to your employer to solidify your claim for compensation.
If you’ve hired a workers compensation lawyer, you can delegate handing the documents to your employer.
Insurer Honors or Rejects Compensation Claim
After reviewing the case and evidence tabled by your employer, the insurer can honor or reject the compensation claim. However, if your paperwork is aligned with the events of the day, the insurer will most likely approve the claim. You can then receive your compensation benefits.
However, if the insurer rejects your claim for compensation, you can file an appeal through your workers compensation lawyer. The lawyer will gather more evidence and build a strong case to show why you deserve compensation in the appeal.
Claim Compensation after Work-Related Injuries
If you get injured at work, you should claim compensation. Report the accident to your employer, then get medication. Your employer should file for compensation from the insurer. However, you might need a workers compensation lawyer to help gather evidence and appeal if the insurer rejects your claim.
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