When a person is injured or becomes ill because of their job, workman’s comp is intended to provide compensation for missed work and cover the medical services you need as a result of the injury. Nearly all employers are required to buy workman’s comp insurance. However, workman’s comp doesn’t cover all types of employees. To be covered by your employer’s workman’s comp insurance, you must be an employee (not a temp or independent contractor) and must be injured while performing your specific work duties or ill from hazards on the job.
There can be a lot of fine lines and gray areas when it comes to workman’s comp, so to ensure you are receiving the benefits that are rightfully yours, there are a few things you should know:
You Must Report An Injury Or Illness Immediately ? Not reporting your illness or injury to your HR department could result in your workman’s comp claim being denied. It doesn’t matter who saw the accident. If your doctor says your illness is caused by your job, report it immediately and keep your medical records for proof ? you will need them later.
See A Doctor ? Don’t put off getting medical help. In many circumstances, your employer will tell you which medical provider or hospital you need to go to for your bills to be covered. Be sure to let your doctor know that you were on the job when the injury or illness occurred, and that your medical records include the details and history of your job that show how the illness/injury occurred.
Workman’s Comp Is A No-Fault Insurance ? That means that even if the injury happened and it was your fault, you could still receive benefits. There are instances where this is not true though. This type of insurance doesn’t deny you for walking too close to a forklift when it ran over your foot, but it can deny your claim if you are working under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol or if your injury was the result of intense horseplay at work.
Consult With An Experienced Attorney ? Workman’s comp claims are often denied because of missing paperwork or other formal legalities that you may be unaware of. You can get your claim pushed through faster and avoid small technicalities that cause problems and delays by working with a workman’s comp attorney like the professionals at Tourtlotte Law Firm, that know HOW to work with workman’s comp insurance. If workman’s comp offers a settlement, your attorney will know if the settlement is fair or if you should be entitled to receive more for your injury or illness. It is in your best interest to work with a qualified workman’s comp attorney in Billings.
Don’t Expect To Receive A High Payout ? Workman’s comp has no intention of making you feel rich. In fact, some states have a max workman’s comp benefit of only $725 a week. If you are used to making more than this ? you could take another hit as a result of your injury. Large benefits are uncommon.
When a person is injured or becomes ill because of their job, workman’s comp is intended to provide compensation for missed work and cover the medical services you need as a result of the injury. Nearly all employers are required to buy workman’s comp insurance. However, workman’s comp doesn’t cover all types of employees. To be covered by your employer’s workman’s comp insurance, you must be an employee (not a temp or independent contractor) and must be injured while performing your specific work duties or ill from hazards on the job.