Construction Accident Lawyer
Getting injured on the job can be devastating, but getting workers’ compensation benefits can help with your medical bills and pay for lost income while you are out of work and recovering. However, filing your claim for workers’ compensation is not the only thing you should do after your accident. It is also imperative that you correctly report your injury after it has occurred. Before you can make your claim, you should also report your injury in some form to your employer or your manager, and the details of this report can be extremely helpful when an insurance company determines whether to give you benefits. For more information on making a work-related accident report, read below.
Reporting Your Injury
Reporting your injury in a timely manner is imperative. In fact, if you do not report your accident within the timeframe as outlined by your state and your employer’s workers’ compensation rules, you could be quickly denied your claim. Many employers ask that you file your report (in writing) within 30 days of the accident, but filing it sooner can only help an insurance company to process your claim quicker.
What Items Should Your Injury Report Have?
Certain state and employers will have a claims form specifically for their employees. Your manager or an HR representative from your company should be able to provide you with this claim form. In other instances, you can also get a claim form from your specific states’ workers’ compensation committee.
The information you can expect to provide for this form can be seen below.
- Personal information. This will include details like your name, your job title, how long you have been at the company, and your daily tasks.
- The details of the accident. What were you hurt by and where were you injured during the accident?
- How did the accident happen? Go into detail about the circumstances leading up to your injuries.
- What is the date, time, and location that the accident occurred?
- Who else, if anyone, was involved in your accident?
- If you have already seen a doctor, which medical treatments you have already undergone.
How Should I Follow My Claim?
Once you have completed your report, it is imperative that you keep a record of certain information as you file your workers’ compensation claim and as you follow the claim. You want to ensure that you have filled out all the required documents and that you have copies and records proving forms you have filled out. Additionally, keep a record of how your injury or illness progresses and the ways in which it affects your work. It is also important that you keep any medical reports and have receipts for any expenses that you pay out-of-pocket. Keeping these steps in mind can help your claim process be smoother and it can ensure you have the evidence needed to win your claim.
What Are the Next Steps After I File My Claim?
Once you file your claim, you must keep track of it as it progresses. If the insurance company denied your claim, having a workers compensation lawyer Gaithersburg, MD trusts on your side can help you make the best next steps in re-filing your claim.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at Cohen & Cohen, PC for their insight into workers compensation and work-related reports.
