How to File for Workers' Comp
About 16,000 American workers fall ill or suffer injury every day in the workplace, and 1600 workers die annually as a result. American employers, with few exceptions, are required to purchase workers' compensation insurance to cover job-related injuries and illnesses. Workers' comp provides protection for 192 million U.S. workers, but few know how the the system works or how to file a claim if they are injured on the job.
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Instructions
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Report your injury or job-related illness to your employer immediately. Know your employer's injury policy in advance; failure to comply may be grounds for denying your claim.
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Visit a doctor as soon as possible. Victims of on-the-job accidents and injuries are routinely taken to a company paid doctor or clinic as soon as the incident is reported. Call your personal physician to schedule a second opinion or follow-up as soon as possible.
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Obtain a claim form from your state workers' comp office or download it online (see Resources). Be sure to thoroughly read and carefully follow the instructions at the top of the form. Complete only the "Employee" section; sign and date the form and make a copy for your own records.
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Take the form to your employer. If your injuries or illness is too severe for you to present the worker's comp form to your employer in person, send it via certified mail. You are entitled to $10,000 in medical care while your employer decides to accept or deny your claim.
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Your employer will complete the appropriate sections and file the workers' comp claim form to the insurance company for processing. Request a copy of the completed form for your records. The insurance company will contact you regarding the status of your claim. Be patient; the insurance company has 14 days, by law, to notify you of your workers' comp status.
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Tips & Warnings
Contract workers are generally not covered by workers' comp, and employers with fewer than 15 employees are not required to have coverage.
