Workers' Compensation Tips: Reporting Your Injury
Posted on: 20 February 2020
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The goal of workers' compensation is to help employees with expenses after suffering an injury while on the job. Included in the expenses are costs for medical care, lost wages, and even training for a new position within the company if the employee is no longer able to perform his or her previous job due to the injury. To get workers' compensation, you first have to report the injury. The following are some tips to consider when you report your injury to your employer:
Make the Report in Writing
When you report your injury, you need to do so in writing. You cannot do this verbally and expect a workers' compensation claim to move forward. Your employer may accidentally forget to file the injury for you, or your report can get misplaced. After your injury, go straight to your human resources department or your employer to report your injury and make a claim for workers' compensation.
Do Not Wait Too Long
You should report your injury as soon as possible. You only have a short window of time, based on the state you work in, to report your injury and file your claim. If you wait too long, your employer could claim that your injuries were the result of different circumstances not related to your job. You should report the injury to your direct manager and ask to fill out an injury form.
Do Not Relent
If there is any problem with reporting your injury to your employer, particularly if your employer is resistant when you make an attempt to make your report, you still need to write out a report. You can write the circumstances of your injury on a piece of paper describing exactly what happened. You should include where you were when you were injured, what task you were performing, what led to the injury, and what happened afterward. You should be specific with dates, times, and any extenuating circumstances. For example, if your workspace was wet due to a leak in the roof and you slipped and fell, you need to state where the water was located, what you were doing when you fell, and other pertinent details to the accident. After you write your report, make a copy and ask your employer to place it in your personnel file.
Once you take these steps, you can move forward with your workers' compensation claim. If you have any resistance or issues with your claim, be sure to consult with a workers' compensation attorney right away.