Introduction
Workers’ compensation is also often referred to as workman’s comp.. It is basically an insurance program, which offers financial and medical benefits to those employees who are injured in a work-related accident or illness.
Workers’ comp gives injured or sick employees access to medical treatment, regardless of cost, along with compensation for lost wages during rehabilitation..
The workers’ compensation program is a “no-fault” program, which means it does matter who is at fault; as long as the injury or sickness is work-related, the employee will get the compensation.
It is really crucial to remember that the employees have to prove that the illness or injury was sustained at work. In every state apart from Texas, the workers’ compensation coverage is a mandate. If you have had an injury or work-related illness, you should contact a lawyer who is skilled in personal injury law to help you with your case.
How Does Workers’ Compensation Work?
The workers’ compensation process begins with filing a claim, or more specifically, a workers’ compensation claim. Generally, all employees need to do is inform their employer of your injury or illness. The employer, along with the insurance company, should help get the claim started for you.
If a dispute arises, injured employees can contact the workers’ compensation board in your particular state. If you live in the Florida area, it is best to seek the help of Orlando workers comp lawyers.
Workers’ compensation should cover the entire medical cost that is related to a work-related injury. In addition to this, while the affected employee is receiving care or unable to work, he or she will be provided two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage.
In some cases, an employee may desire a payout of his or her compensation, the injured worker always has the option of negotiating this with the employer and insurance company. At this point, it is always a good idea to involve an experienced attorney, especially when future medical expenses need to be taken into account. If a claim is settled via payout, the worker who is injured or affected may forfeit coverage of the upcoming future injury-related medical bills.
How To File A Claim?
Filing a claim after an injury may be embarrassing or stressful, but it is needed. Here are the basic steps that you need to follow when you are going to file a workman’s comp claim.
- Report The Injury To Your Employer
The very first step is to inform your employer about the accident, injury, or illness you encountered. The employer will need to document the circumstances surrounding the event.
The employer will then prepare a report which will be used throughout the process when referencing your injury or illness event. So, be sure that you give a detailed report to your employer.
- File A Claim
Your employer will have the official form that you need to fill out. Filling out a workman’s comp claim involves a lot of paperwork. If your employer fails to offer the form or is unable to give you the form, be sure to inform your doctor that it is a work-related injury.
Along with the form, you might also need to submit documents, such as your medical bills, doctor’s reports, etc.
- Insurer Review
Your paperwork will end up on the desk of an insurance adjuster. The insurance adjuster will look after your claim on behalf of the insurance company and he or she will review your claim. Once your claim is approved, you will receive compensation.
The Bottom Line
If you are injured at work, be sure to report it immediately. In the case of workman’s comp, even if the injury seems small, it is better to report it so you’re protected if the injury becomes worse. There are many other things involved in a work-related accident, but these are the basic things that you need to know about the workers’ compensation process.
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