Taking Action To Ensure Workers’ Compensation Success

Your employer is required to provide workers with a special type of insurance coverage if certain conditions exist. Since the vast majority of workers are covered, you might not have paid much attention to that particular benefit when you signed your employment paperwork. No one wants to imagine a workplace injury, but that is what insurance is for. Read on for a better understanding of what workers' comp covers and why you need to make some timely moves to assure coverage.

Coverage to expect

Keep in mind that workers' comp is not a federally-run program but is controlled by each state. That means some variation in benefits and in the claim procedure. You can always access your particular rules by viewing your state workers' compensation board or department of labor website. Generally, you can expect the following:

1. Full payment of any medical treatments for any condition or injury directly related to your workplace occurrence.

2. A partial payment of your usual salary which is often just a percentage of the regular amount. This payment is provided weekly and is free of taxes and other deductions. This payment is available to those who need to stay out of work until their injury gets better.

3. A lump sum settlement in the event of a permanent injury.

4. Rehabilitative services to include job training, resume prep, and career prep and testing services for a permanent injury.

First things first

See a medical professional right away. For your initial treatment, you can go to an emergency room, an urgent care or to your own doctor. If you fail to seek treatment, then you are not likely to be approved for any of the above benefits.

Get your claim started

Let your supervisor know about the injury and about your intention to file a workers' comp claim. Not all workplaces are as accommodating as they might need to be, but you have a right to file a claim if you are hurt while on the job. In some states, you can access a claim form online and file it yourself. Even if your supervisor readies the form, you must read it carefully and sign your agreement with the facts as stated on the form. Forms with errors can hold matters up, so ensure that everything on the form is correct to your knowledge.

When problems occur

There are any number of issues that can arise with a workers' comp claim, so speak to a lawyer if the claim is denied for no good reason, your employer doesn't want to file a claim, or you are being asked to return to work while still injured.

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