How long after an accident do I have to report it to my employer?
If you’ve been injured at work, you should qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. However, it’s important to follow the correct procedures to make sure you get the benefits you’re entitled to.
What should you do if you’re injured on the job?
If you have been injured at your job, the first and most important thing to do is to seek medical attention, according to lawyers Ghitterman, Ghitterman & Feld. For an emergency situation, go to a hospital or call 911. If your injury is not life-threatening, you still want to make sure that you see a doctor for the proper treatment. This is important not only for your health and safety, but also to record the circumstances and severity of your injury.
Once you’ve received proper medical attention, you will need to inform your employer about your injury as soon as possible. Even if you have a slowly developing injury, such as a repetitive motion injury, it’s important to report this injury as soon as you notice it or realize that it was caused by your job. Prompt reporting of on-the-job injuries will avoid delays and problems in receiving workers’ compensation benefits. After an injury, you need to report it to your employer within 30 days. If you don’t do so, you risk losing your benefits.
What benefits are you entitled to after a job-related injury?
After you report an injury, your employer should provide you with a workers’ compensation claim form. You will need to fill this out and return it to your employer promptly. This form serves as written notice of your injury.
Once your workers’ compensation claim is submitted, you can start to receive benefits. You are entitled to have your medical expenses covered for the treatment of a job-related injury. You can also be awarded temporary disability benefits to replace some or all of your lost wages while you can’t work and permanent disability benefits if you are never able to fully recover from your injury.
Important Things to Know
– Your employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Employers who fail to provide coverage are subject to penalties.
– If your employer illegally did not have workers’ compensation coverage, you can still file a claim with the state of California. In this case, the claim would be paid by the Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund.
– After reporting an injury, the insurer is required to release up to $10,000 for immediate medical expenses, even if your claim is ultimately denied.
– If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. At this point, you should strongly consider hiring a workers’ compensation attorney if you don’t already have one.
– You are entitled to have your medical expenses paid even if your injury isn’t severe enough to force you to miss work.
– Part-time and temporary workers may be eligible for benefits.
– You don’t have to be a legal resident of the U.S. to receive most workers’ compensation benefits.
– Your employer cannot legally punish you for reporting an injury or requesting workers’ compensation benefits.
– You are entitled to receive medical care until you are fully recovered, or your doctor says you have recovered to the fullest possible extent.
– If you want to be able to see your own doctor in the event of a work-related injury, you will need to provide your employer written notice of this wish before any injury occurs.
