If you’re unsure how to proceed with a workers’ compensation claim following a work injury, you’re not alone. Most people have little or no experience with the workers’ compensation system, and the process can be quite complex, so it can be helpful to have a checklist that you can work through to ensure everything runs smoothly. Below, we’ve created a simple checklist that you can complete en route to a successful workers’ compensation claim.
Checklist For Filing For Workers’ Compensation
We understand that all work accidents are unique, but at the same time, the process for filing a workers’ compensation claim is oftentimes pretty similar. Here are some items to check off the list as you work towards filing a claim.
1. Report Your Injury ASAP – Hopefully you already reported your injury to management or Human Resources, but if not, you need to inform them of your accident or injuries as soon as possible. The longer you wait to report the injury, the harder it will be to prove that your work actions were the primary source of your injuries. Report your injuries as soon as they arise, even if you’re not certain that you will be moving forward with an injury claim.
2. Seek Out A Medical Evaluation – In order to win a workers’ compensation award, your injuries need to be documented by an impartial medical professional. Again, you shouldn’t delay in seeking out this evaluation. Head to a doctor’s office and have your injuries assessed. Let the provider know that you are seeking an independent medical evaluation following a work injury, and they’ll be able to fill out paperwork that can help prove your case if they find evidence that any existing injuries are likely the result of work actions.
3. Talk With An Attorney – We highly recommend hiring an attorney to assist with the process, but even if you want to file for compensation on your own, it can be very helpful to take a meeting with a lawyer. They can go over some basics and explain how they believe your case will play out, or you can hire them on and they can go to work meticulously planning your case and determining a fair value for your injuries, including any potential future medical issues. Yes, an attorney will take a small percentage of your winnings, but oftentimes they can get you a much bigger payday because of their expertise, more than offsetting their fee. Pick the brain of a professional during the course of your claim.
4. Complete A FROI – Your employer is legally required to complete a First Report of Injury (FROI) form within 10 days of the beginning of an employee’s disability or from when they become aware of the employee’s disability. It is oftentimes helpful for the employee to assist the employer with the completion of this form to ensure its accuracy, so consider connecting with management and scheduling a time to finish this form.
5. Keep Notes – We always recommend that our clients keep notes of anything pertaining to their injury case. Write down your version of what happened, what days you attended meetings or spoke on the phone about your injury case, and write down the names and other helpful information relevant to your case. This will ensure you have an accurate record of information to fall back on in the event that you need to remember something down the road. It can also provide clarity in the event another party has a different version of events than you do.
6. Help Keep Things Moving – Finally, you can help move things along when it comes to your work claim by staying on top of the factors you can control. If the insurance company or your lawyer is requesting more information, don’t drag your feet getting back to them. You can always contact the insurance company or your lawyer for a status update, but if you get back to people in short order, they will likely do the same, and this can help to keep the process moving.
For more information about how you can file and win a workers’ compensation case in Minnesota, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
