While people don’t assume they are going to get hurt when they go to work, this can still happen from time to time. If someone gets hurt on the job (or develops an illness that is the direct result of his or her job), this is likely going to be a workers’ compensation injury that will be eligible for a claim. If the claim ends up getting approved, the employee will be able to access medical coverage as well as wage replacement during his or her recovery. There might be other benefits he or she could be entitled to as well. On the other hand, it is important for everyone to file a claim appropriately.
In general, the process for filing a workers’ compensation claim can be a bit challenging to understand. There are multiple moving parts and parties involved. These include the insurance company providing the benefits, the doctor treating the injury or illness, the employer, and the employee. There might also be a state regulatory board involved as well. Therefore, there are a few important points that everyone should understand.
First, remember that the vast majority of injuries that take place on the job are going to be covered by worker’s compensation insurance. These include illnesses and injuries that might result from accidents, equipment, materials, and more.
As soon as someone gets hurt or falls ill, it is important to file a claim as soon as possible. The employee does have a limited amount of time to report the injury or illness from the time of the incident. Therefore, it is better to not wait and file a claim as quickly as possible. As a rule, injured or sick workers need to report the occupational hazard to the employer. This needs to be done quickly. If there is any delay in the filing of the claim, the insurance company might see this as a reason to deny benefits. This delay might also give the impression that the claim might not be legitimate.
There are a few types of injuries and illnesses that workers’ compensation will not cover. These include psychiatric illnesses that develop while on the job, injuries that are proven to be self-inflicted, injuries that stem from fights with other employees, injuries sustained from an accident that took place during the commute, and injuries that took place during the commission of a crime or while under the influence of alcohol.
If someone ends up getting a claim denied, this can be a stressful process. It can be helpful to work with trained legal professionals, such as an attorney, to review the claim. Just because a claim gets denied doesn’t mean that there aren’t other avenues. Workers’ compensation benefits are critical for maintaining someone’s livelihood during the recovery process. Therefore, it is important to remember that nobody has to go through this process alone. There is always someone who is willing to lend a helping hand to an individual or family in need.