Workers need to report job-related injuries to their employer, who will then report the incident to their insurance provider. Injured employees may have difficulty securing appropriate compensation when employers fail to accomplish this task. Furthermore, they might end up shouldering the cost of treatment using their own money.
How soon should parties report the injury?
Employees can generally report the injury to their employers within 30 days of it occurring, although it is often better to inform them as soon as possible. Additionally, workers should consider getting immediate medical attention, especially if the injury is severe, and they should inform the attending health care professional that the injury is work-related. Medical documentation is usually helpful in workers’ compensation claims.
Employers often have five days to inform their insurance provider of the injury. Failure to do this within the required period might invalidate the workers’ compensation claim.
What can workers do?
Workplace injuries may increase employers’ premiums, so some resort to underhanded tactics instead of reporting an injury. For instance, some employers promise to reimburse the cost of treatment if the injured employee uses their personal money or insurance for treatment. California law requires employers to provide workers’ compensation; failure to do so can result in penalties to employers.
Employers are generally responsible for ensuring the safety of their employees’ workplaces, and this duty often involves providing benefits like workers’ compensation. An advocate who understands workers’ compensation laws can help injured workers fight for their rights and obtain key benefits should their employers fail to provide them.