Getting injured is never fun, but getting hurt at work can be a whole other experience. No matter what type of industry you work in, workplace accidents are always a risk. And the damages of not only the injury itself but the financial impact can be disastrous.
When you get hurt at work, you might end up missing work or incurring lifelong medical complications because of it. For these reasons, it is important that you are compensated. Keep reading to find out how to make sure you are paid what you’re due for your workplace accident.
Table of Contents
See a Doctor
This should be the first step whenever you get injured, and it is essential when getting injured because of insurance reasons. Similar to getting in a car accident, going to see a medical professional after will show whoever is potentially compensating you that you are taking the right steps for your health and not just trying to get some cash.
Visiting the doctor on the day of your injury is the best, but if it is not possible, make sure you pay them a visit within the week. This initial checkup will start your recovery process and provide documentation for you to include when going through the insurance claim process.
Visiting the doctor on the day of your injury is the best, but if it is not possible, make sure you pay them a visit within the week. This initial checkup will start your recovery process and provide documentation for you to include when going through the insurance claim process.
Worker’s Comp
If you have never heard of worker’s compensation and have recently been injured at work, it is time to do your research. This is the type of insurance your company more than likely has (most are required to hold it by law) in case someone gets hurt on the job. There might even be a flyer describing it and the process you must complete to claim it available somewhere at your workplace.
Inform Your HR Department
Reading a flyer about how to get compensation might be a tad confusing, so seeing your human resources department or representative is a must. They should not only be well-versed on worker’s compensation but extremely knowledgeable about the specific steps you must take at your workplace.
The Process
Most employers have similar requirements for the process of claiming compensation. Typically, you must let the employer know you will be filing. They will let you know if you are required to do so in writing for documentation purposes. Then you must also let whoever provides your employer’s worker’s comp know that you will be filing a claim.
After that is done, you can fill out your claim and submit it to the insurance company. Some forms may be found at your job or online. Again, your HR representative should give you all this information, but if not, they should be able to answer any of your questions.
Follow Up
After filing a claim, you should follow up with the insurance company. Make sure to check your emails, voicemail, and mail on a regular basis, because they will be sending you updates throughout the process. These updates can include requests for more information and notices about which medical bills they paid or how much of a bill they paid.
To make sure you do not miss out on any compensation, this is an important step. Follow the insurance companies requests for more documentation or verbal statements in a timely manner. If this is done, hopefully everything will go smoothly.
If Problems Arise
If worker’s compensation denies your claim for some reason, or your employer is not cooperative, it may be time to see a lawyer. Look up local accident attorneys, like this one from Tampa, FL if you live in the Tampa area. These types of lawyers specialize in making sure you get compensated for your pain and suffering.
Conclusion
If you get hurt at work and are prompted to see a doctor because of it, you need to at least look into worker’s comp. It may be a process, but so could your recovery. You will not regret gaining some extra money to help pay any medical bills or expenses that were a result of the injury.
About Carson Derrow
