Regardless of what industry you work in or the nature of your accident, an injury in the workplace is always a serious matter. Last year alone, the state of Missouri experienced 91,724 workplace-related injury incidents. When an injury occurs on-the-job, time is of the essence to make sure that you receive the help and support you need, your workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is a kind of insurance provided by employers to help cover lost wages and medical bills in the event of an on-the-job injury.

The process of filing a claim and receiving compensation is lengthy and involves many steps, so many people trying to file a workers’ compensation claim find themselves lost and confused. With the right help, however, you can get the claims process started with minimal headache.

Seek Medical Attention

First and foremost, you should receive treatment for the injury you’ve suffered before you can file a claim. It’s important to check with your supervisor or manager beforehand, as some workers’ compensation policies require employees to visit a predetermined doctor. Visiting the doctor and receiving treatment creates written record of the extent of your injuries, so you will need to do so even if you feel your injuries were not severe.

Report The Injury

Another extremely important step to take is to submit an injury report to your employer. This is a time-sensitive event: if you do not report your injury before the deadline, you may be denied workers’ compensation benefits. The time given to report an injury varies from state-to-state. In Missouri, you have 30 days to submit a report. Because of this, all workplace accidents should be reported, even if they do not result in injury.

Your employer should provide you with a claim form for you to fill out. This is where you’ll include the details of your accident and injury, including:

• The date, time and location of the accident;
• The people involved and the circumstances surrounding the injury;
• The type of injury and how it affects you; and
• The medical treatment you receive.

Employer’s Responsibilities

Once you, the employee, have submitted your claim, the matter now falls into your employer’s hands. They already work with an insurance provider to process accidents such as this. That company will assign an adjuster to review your claim and decide on the exact nature of your benefits. Typically, your worker’s compensation is meant to cover any medical expenses as a result of the workplace accident and any lost income over the time of your injury.

Trouble with Workers’ Comp? Call the Law Office of Chris Miller

In the event that your workers’ compensation claim is denied, or you are unhappy with the results of the adjuster’s decision, you usually have the opportunity to appeal. However, legal matters such as this can be stressful to those without the know-how, especially if you are amid a workplace injury. If you’re filing to receive workers compensation, contact us at The Law Office of Chris Miller. Our attorneys have years of experience handling workers’ compensation claims.