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Reporting Your Injury: Workers Comp And The Accident Reporting Process

3 November 2016

Tracy Roberts

For those injured on the job, workers' comp insurance presents a valuable benefit. From your very first day of employment, your employer has you covered, and at absolutely no cost to you. If you are injured at work or in a work-related accident, you can expect to have all of your medical costs taken care of without the need to use your own health insurance. Additionally, you can expect to stay home and recuperate, if necessary, and to receive a certain portion of your wages while you do so. The reporting procedure for ensuring that you get all the benefits you deserve is important, however, so read on to learn more about the all-important accident report.

After the Accident

Your top priority after you have been hurt, or as soon as you discover a work-related injury or illness, is to seek medical care. Not only is this step important for your health and well-being, but is a requirement of a successful workers' comp claim. If your injury is not severe enough to seek medical care, it may not be considered severe enough to gain benefits.

For example, if you cut your finger and used a bandage to cover it, you are not likely eligible for workers' comp benefits for such a minor injury. On the other hand, if that cut on the finger later on becomes infected and escalates to a life-threatening situation, you will be covered by workers' comp. You must be able to prove a direct link between the injury and work, and the longer you wait to receive medical help the more difficult that could be.

The Accident Report

Once you have your medical needs cared for, ensure that you inform your supervisor of your injury and that an accident report or workers' comp claim form is filled out. Don't worry about having the claim filed before you seek medical care, just inform the medical facility and pharmacy that you are there for a workers' comp related visit. You should not need to pay any money or be concerned about the costs, as long as workers' comp later approves your claim.

Since workers' comp is always run by each individual state, the exact filing process differs slightly in each location. Normally, your supervisor fills out the claim form or accident report using your input. In some locations you may be required to fill a portion of the form out yourself. Regardless of the method, use care when describing the accident and the resulting injury. Take your time and ensure that the information you give the workers' comp insurance company is as accurate and complete as possible, since discrepancies and missing information could cause your claim to be denied.

If you have reason to believe that your claim is not getting the attention it should, contact a workers' comp attorney or firm, such as Hardee and Hardee LLP, as soon as possible. 

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