Being seriously injured at work can turn your entire life upside-down. At the same time as needing medical care, being in pain, and being temporarily disabled, you’ll also be unable to earn an income to support yourself and your family.
This can be an extremely stressful situation to be in, and you may be worried about your future or feel as though you are losing hope. Therefore, it is important that you are aware of your entitlements as an employee injured at work. Most workers in the United States who were injured while engaging in work-related activities are entitled to workers’ compensation. If you believe that you may be entitled to this compensation, you should understand the actions that you will need to take in order to benefit.
Inform your employer in writing as soon as possible
If you do not inform your employer in good time (usually within 30 days of the incident) you will not be entitled to workers’ compensation. It is best if you inform your employer in writing as soon as you reasonably can.
Show that you were injured by engaging in work-related activities
You must be able to show that you were injured when carrying out work-related tasks, not when engaging in horseplay in the workplace or through an activity outside of work. A doctor may be able to confirm the cause of your injury.
File your claim in good time
You need to make your claim for workers’ compensation benefits in good time to prevent losing the right to gain your benefits.
Understand the full range of benefits available
Depending on the circumstances, you could be entitled to a variety of benefits, from medical care cost coverage to temporary disability benefits.
Make sure that you understand what you are entitled to through workers’ compensation insurance so that you can gain the compensation that you deserve.