When you are injured at work, you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits, which can include coverage for medical expenses and lost wages while you are recovering from your injury. However, the workers’ compensation claims process can be confusing if you don’t understand how it works.
Below, we’ll review the most important steps to take after suffering from a workplace injury. If you have any questions or concerns, such as, “If I am injured at work, can I file a claim?” or “Who will pay for my medical treatment?” please get in touch with one of our Kentucky workers’ compensation lawyers at McCoy & Sparks.
1. Report the Incident to Your Employer
You need to report your work injury to your employer as soon as possible after it occurs. It is your employer’s responsibility to file the first report of injury with their insurance company. Your employer’s policy will determine to whom you must report your injury and what forms they expect to be filled out. When you are injured at work, the sooner you report your injury, the sooner you can receive a claim number and begin treating for your injury. If you will be off work as a result of your injury, timely filing your first report of your injury will help avoid any delays in receiving temporary total disability benefits to cover your lost wages.
In Kentucky, you must report a workplace incident as soon as possible. Delays in reporting your injury can result in delays getting the treatment you need to recover which can impact the value of any future settlement owed to you.
It’s in your best interest to get everything reported and filed as soon as possible to ensure the evidence of the accident is fresh and/or easy to track down.
Details that you may need to remember when reporting the accident to your employer include:
- Where the accident occurred
- What date and time the accident took place
- What specifically happened
- What injuries you sustained
- Who else witnessed or was involved in the accident
2. Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Whenever possible, report your injury to a supervisor or safety coordinator before seeking medical treatment. However in emergency situations, you may need to seek immediate medical treatment by calling 911 or having a supervisor or co-worker take you to an emergency room.
If your injuries are not severe, you should still see a doctor as soon as you can following the incident. Proof of your injuries and documentation showing you were treated will serve as evidence that will be required in order for your workers’ comp claim. When you see a medical provider, be sure to be clear with them about all the symptoms you are experiencing that you relate to your work injury, even if some symptoms are more severe than others.
Generally, in Kentucky you are entitled to choose the doctor who treats you for your work injury but in some cases, your employer or their workers’ compensation insurance company may require you to choose from a network of providers that are covered by their workers’ compensation insurance.
3. Keep a Record of Your Injuries and Treatments
One of the most important things you should do is keep a record of everything, especially where your injuries are concerned. If possible, you should take pictures or videos immediately following the accident while still at work that shows what happened and your injuries. But you should also keep a record of everything that follows, such as your doctor’s or hospital visits, treatments, and copies of your medical bills and records. You are entitled to be reimbursed for mileage for travel back and forth to doctor’s appointments, diagnostic testing, or physical therapy visits so you will want to keep track of the dates of those visits.
4. When You Are Injured at Work Consult With a Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Even if you have returned to work after a work-related injury, you may be entitled to additional benefits if you are still experiencing symptoms related to your work injury. Or if your employer is trying to deny you benefits, an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help protect you and make sure you get all the benefits you deserve.
Even if you have done everything right, you may find yourself needing more treatment and unable to return to work, but your employer is denying your claim or refusing to pay for treatment your doctor is recommending. An experienced workers compensation attorney can walk you through this process and help you get the benefits you deserve.
Trust McCoy & Sparks—Premier Personal Workers’ Compensation Attorneys in Central Kentucky
At McCoy & Sparks, our workers’ compensation attorneys know what it takes to ensure our clients are paid the full and fair benefits they deserve for their workplace injuries. We can help you file your claim directly if necessary, ensure all information is correct on your paperwork, deal with denials or appeals, and make sure your benefits are fairly calculated so you are paid the full amount you are owed.
You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Make the right call to (844) 4KY-WINS for a risk-free consultation with one of our workers’ compensation attorneys today.