Workers compensation insurance is designed to benefit both employees who might get injured on the job and employers. You cannot sue an employer with workers compensation (specifically so this encourages more employers to invest in it), but you can file a claim to get your expenses covered. You must be an employee of the company, so contractors and volunteers cannot make a claim with workers compensation.
If you don’t know about your state compensation laws, you can google them (for example: first time workers compensation claim Oregon) to get the right information. If you’ve been injured and you’ve never made a claim before, here’s what you need to do.
Inform Your Employer
First and foremost, tell your employer that the accident and your injury has happened. If you need to get emergency medical attention right away, then tell an employer as soon as possible afterward. The longer you wait to tell them, the easier it is for insurance to avoid paying your claim. If your injuries don’t seem serious, you should still see a doctor, as there may be something wrong you don’t realize, and a doctor’s note can prove that the injury was related to work.
Fill Out Reporting Forms
Your employer should give you important forms to fill out. These include ones that report the incident to insurance and one that informs the state workers comp board. You should also receive information on your rights under the insurance policy. The employer may discuss your situation for returning to work.
Make the Claim
Your employer takes the proper paperwork and files it with their insurance. The insurance agency will then either accept or deny the claim. If your claim is denied, you may consider contacting a workers comp lawyer to discuss your situation to see if there is any other way to get covered for your injury.