Workplace accidents are common but in most cases all employees injured at work deserve to get compensation. There are state laws that set out the parameters to determine the measures that should be taken when administering a worker’s compensation claim.
Failure to handle the worker’s compensation claim can lead to lawsuits against the organization which can tarnish its image. You can find Class Code Lookup here.
Read on to learn how to properly handle a worker’s compensation claim.
Immediately Attend To The Injured Worker
Work-related accidents are inevitable in some instances so it is crucial to educate your workers about the necessary measures they should take to deal with workplace injuries. It is essential to administer first aid to the injured worker then seek medical treatment from a company-recommended doctor.
When the injury takes place within the workplace, it is essential to evaluate all the circumstances leading to the accident so that the injured worker can get the compensation they deserve with the help of Workers Compensation Lawyers Massachusetts. You should also counsel the employee and evaluate the treatment plan they get from the doctor while you work on modalities to see how the compensation claim can be processed.
Report The Incident To Appropriate Authorities
When you are satisfied that the injured employee is out of danger, the next important step is to report the workplace injury to the designated representative within the company. Usually, there is a health safety officer responsible for handling such matters in the company. The representative can then contact the injured person’s family. Action should also be taken immediately to ensure that the site of the accident is safe to prevent the occurrence of other similar issues.
The company’s representative should then meet with the injured employee so that they can complete an injury report that can help in determining the compensation that can be awarded. When writing the injury report, both the employer and the company representative should provide vital details about the accident.
For instance, the report should include the name of the injured employee, sex, details of what transpired, date, time, and location. The employee should provide all information that can be used to process the compensation claim.
Seek Legal Representation
Under different state laws, all work-related injuries deserve compensation. The employer is responsible for handling the worker’s compensation claim so that you get the financial support that can help you get back into normal life. Compensation can also help you recover lost income together with medical recovery expenses.
However, if you feel that your company has acted in bad faith, finding a lawyer to assist with a compensation claim is the most viable option that you can consider. Many companies usually avoid litigation since it can impact on their operations. Therefore, to avoid litigation if you are the employer, there are different steps that you can take to administer a worker’s compensation claim.
File The Compensation Claim Report
The next step is that the company should file the injury report with the organization’s workers’ compensation carrier. Different methods can be used to submit the report and in some instances, the state laws may compel the employers to submit the report as well to the state workers’ compensation agency.
The report should bear details such as the claim such as when the employer was notified, case number health care providers, and costs incurred. The report should also outline other benefits lost as a result of workplace injury.
The representative will then need to constantly keep in touch with the employee and inform them when to contact the workers’ compensation carrier to settle the issues of wage replacement. The representative should also inform the employee about medical treatment and make a regular follow-up on every development concerning the progress of the worker’s compensation claim.
When the compensation claim has been handled properly, the organization can work on the timeline upon which the injured employee can return to work. Special consideration should be taken by the employer to check if they can accommodate the injured employee in their new state.
It is essential to have a clear policy that states if the compensation benefits can be administered at the same time with Family Medical Leave (FMLA). Additionally, the doctor should provide a certificate of merit stating when the employee is ready to return to work. The employer should check if the employee can continue with the leave or terminate employment. However, employers should seek legal guidance before they make the final decision about the employee’s fate.
Workplace injuries are common and under normal circumstances, the employee injured at work deserves to get compensation. Different states have laws that compel employers to follow compensation procedures to ensure that the injured employees are equitably compensated. Failure to handle a worker’s compensation claim can result in litigation against the organization which can affect its operations.
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