In this blog we discuss basic information about workers compensation. We will also tell you the best way to file a claim. If you ever feel unsure about the process or have questions, you can call a Palm Beach County workers compensation attorney. The call is free and can provide you with important advice about your case.
Workers Compensation
If you become injured at work, or fall ill because of work related issues and are unable to fulfill your job duty, you may be able to qualify for workers compensation. This is a type of insurances that covers lost wages, medical expenses, and rehabilitation until you are able to work again.
Filing a Workers Comp Claim
In order to qualify for workers compensation benefits a claim must be filed. This is a precarious process which is why it is important to follow your employer’s rules as well as those of the state and insurance company. In general you will want to follow these guidelines:
- Seek medical attention for your work related injury. Once you do this, it’s important to let your employer know what happened. This usually must be dones within 3 days, but these time limits will vary by state. Sometimes the limit is up to a month and in certain instances you have two years from the time you were made aware of the injury or illness. A workers comp attorney can explain this during a free consultation.
- Your employer should have claims forms available. This must be filled out and submitted before the deadline. Make sure this is done correctly to avoid denials or delays.
- Once this is submitted to your employer, he or she must submit it to their insurance company. Make sure you confirm with them when the form was submitted.
- As long as there is no disagreement, your claim should be approved.
- You may be contacted by the insurance company who may ask you for medical documentation or other records. At this point, the process could become challenging. This is partly because your employer may be subjected to an increase in rates. For this reason you should have a lawyer, like a workers compensation attorney Long Island relies on, helping you through the process.
- If you are not losing any income, and can work, you may still be eligible for reimbursement of medical bills.
Typically workers comp claims take between 2 and 4 works to be finalized. Although all this sounds easy, many claims are not so straightforward. You could face denial or setbacks that leave you without compensation for months. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the better.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. for their insight into workers compensation cases.