In 2020, there were 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries. Nobody goes to work expecting to get injured. Yet, businesses must be prepared for an accident at work to happen.
Nearly all states in the US require that businesses carry worker’s compensation insurance for the protection of their employees.
Will you know what to do if you’re injured at work? If you’re injured at work, you should know you have certain rights. These rights intend to protect you.
Read on to learn more about your rights if you experience a workplace injury.
Right to File a Claim
If you experience a workplace injury, it’s crucial that you report it to your employer right away. In fact, in many states, there are time limits for how long you have to report your injury.
Once you report your injury to your employer, they should report it to their worker’s compensation insurer and provide you with the necessary paperwork to file a claim. The sooner you start this process, the better.
You don’t want an insurer to suggest later your injury wasn’t work-related because you delayed filing the claim.
Right to Seek Medical Treatment
When you suffer a workplace injury, seeking medical treatment is important. Obviously, if the situation is emergent, you’d go right away. Yet, any injury should get checked out by medical professionals. Their documentation becomes an important part of your claim.
In fact, you may be asked to see a doctor who handles worker’s compensation cases.
Right to Appeal a Worker’s Compensation Decision
Remember, a worker’s compensation claim is made to an insurance company. Now, insurance is intended to help when you need it.
At the same time, insurance companies don’t like paying claims which can make it difficult. If the insurance company denies your claim, and they’ve been known to pull this, you have the right to file an appeal regarding their decision.
Right to Legal Representation
An important thing to know is that if you suffer injuries while working, you have the right to legal representation as you navigate through your claim. A lawyer for workers compensation cases will know how to proceed with your case and can help you make sure you do everything possible to win your case.
Right to File for Disability
Sadly, some workplace injuries are severe enough that the worker is unable to return to work. They might suffer a permanent injury that prevents their return to work.
In this situation, the worker not only has the right to worker’s compensation benefits, but they can also apply for disability through the US government.
Right to Return Back to Work
If you suffer a less severe injury, work through the injury, and recover, you also have the right to return back to your job. Your doctor would need to clear you to return back to work.
Injured at Work, Get the Help You Need
If you’re injured at work, you shouldn’t get refused treatment or get ignored by the worker’s compensation insurance company. Remember, you have rights when you suffer a workplace injury.
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