Most employers have a legal obligation to buy workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. This insurance policy allows injured workers to receive compensation for medical expenses and lost wages that resulted from the workplace accident.
If you have been injured at work, you have to file a workers’ compensation claim in order to receive these benefits. Your employer must file a First Report of Injury with their workers’ compensation insurance provider. This is just one of the many legal responsibilities that an employer has to abide by when an employee has filed a workers’ compensation claim.
Employers’ Responsibilities
One of the most important responsibilities an employer has is to provide a safe working environment for employees. The fewer hazards there are, the less likely employees are to get injured. Unfortunately, injuries can still happen in even the safest work environments. However, injuries can and do happen in any situation no matter how many precautions you take. That’s why having workers’ compensation insurance is so important. This insurance policy prevents workers from having to pay for their medical expenses that resulted from the injury.
After reporting a workplace injury, your employer must call for emergency medical treatment or send you to an approved medical provider. If they do not, you should seek medical care on your own to document the injury.
Once you have filed a claim, your employer also must follow through with any requests from the insurance company or the workers’ compensation board. The employer will be required to provide any requested evidence related to the injury or the terms of your employment.
Retaliatory Discharge:
It is within your legal right to file a workers’ compensation claim for getting injured at work..The law prohibits employers to retaliate or discriminate against employees who file a workers’ compensation claim. If your employer fires you for reporting an injury or accident, for requesting that they file a claim with their workers’ compensation carrier or if they find out you hired an attorney to file a claim on your behalf way for filing a workers’ compensation claim, you have a right to pursue a civil lawsuit against the employer.
If you believe your employer is neglecting any responsibilities or has discriminated against you for filing a workers’ compensation claim, you should consult with a skilled work injury lawyer from Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt as soon as possible.