No matter the circumstances of your workplace injury, you follow the same general steps in requesting worker’s compensation benefits. These steps are meant to be simple to follow, especially in the aftermath of an accident. However, many employees might not know what they are or where to learn about them.
This easy-to-follow guide provides you with the essential tasks that must take place if you are hurt on the job. When you and your employer follow these steps, you can expect to receive the benefits you deserve swiftly.
5 Essential Steps in Your Worker’s Compensation Claim
The Wisconsin worker’s compensation program is a no-fault system, meaning you can receive benefits regardless of whose carelessness caused the accident. These benefits include payment of your reasonable and necessary medical bills and compensation for time missed from work.
The following five steps are central to your claim’s success:
1. Report Your Injury to Your Employer
Your first task is to notify your employer of your injury as quickly as possible. Ideally, you should report your injury in writing so there is evidence you fulfilled this obligation. However, you can also make an oral report of your accident. You should aim to make this report within 30 days of the accident to protect your worker’s compensation rights.
2. Get Medical Treatment
You should obtain medical treatment immediately if you suffer life-threatening injuries. Otherwise, once you have reported your accident to your employer, you should visit the nearest doctor or emergency room. Keep all records from your visit and adhere to any work restrictions your doctor gives you.
3. Your Employer Should Report the Accident
Once you notify your employer of your accident, they will inform their worker’s compensation insurer and the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Division. Your employer must make this report within 14 days of your notification unless the accident involved a fatality. In that case, your employer must notify its insurer within 24 hours.
4. You Receive Payment
If your claim is approved, you will begin receiving payments, sometimes within 14 days of your accident. There will be a slight delay in benefits for time missed from work. Specifically, you must be absent from work for at least seven days before you will receive payment for your first three days of missed work.
5. Ask for a Formal Hearing or Informal Resolution for Disputed Claims
Finally, if your claim is not approved or you do not receive the benefits you believe you deserve, you should dispute the claim. You can request a formal hearing or pursue an informal resolution through mediation. If you are still denied benefits, you may have other options available to challenge the denial.
Reach Out for Help if Needed
Even though the worker’s compensation process is meant to be worker-friendly, it is not uncommon for injured employees to have questions. Seeking help from an experienced Wisconsin worker’s compensation lawyer can give you the guidance you need to fulfill your responsibilities and obtain the benefits you deserve.
