When a worker suffers an injury on the job, he or she must properly report the injury to the employer in order to file a workers’ compensation claim. If the worker does not uphold his or her responsibility to properly report the injury, then the workers’ compensation claim may never go through.
When a worker reports an injury, it is important o make sure that employer fills out the proper form and submits in a timely manner. This form is known as a “First Report of Injury,” and must be completed accurately to ensure that you receive proper treatment and compensation. If an employer does not fill out the form properly, then the worker’s claim may suffer, or may take longer than necessary to process.
In some cases, a worker may suffer an injury on the job, but choose to avoid reporting it for one reason or another. If the injury worsens later on, the worker may have great difficulty getting a workers’ compensation claim to go through. In most cases, there are time limits associated with workers compensation claims, and if a worker does not file a claim within the proper amount of time, then he or she may have limited options to recover fair compensation to pay for the medical expenses of treatment and other losses.
If you have any questions surrounding an injury on the job, you can speak with an experienced attorney. An attorney can guide you through a workers’ compensation claim and ensure that you do not miss out on important protections and benefits while you recover.
Source: FindLaw, “Handling a Claim: Employer and Employee Responsibilities,” accessed Feb. 02, 2018
