Workers’ compensation claims are a major headache for any employer. Nobody wants to see their employee get hurt, and nobody wants to lose a valuable staff member while they spend time recovering. In addition to the inconvenience, you might be concerned about the cost — some injuries claims cost over $81,000 on average. Unfortunately, though, these types of incidents happen every day, which is why workers’ comp insurance is a necessity. Workers’ comp coverage can shield your business from expenses such as medical payments, time off work, and settlement sums. Read on to learn about the best practices if you’ve recently had to deal with an injury and a workers’ comp claim.
Train Team Members
Following a workplace accident, it’s imperative that you initiate a discussion with your employees about workplace safety and accident prevention. You don’t want this to happen again, and in many cases, education is an effective antidote. You should also take the time to remind your staff members of the correct protocol for reporting an injury. These procedures should by clearly outlined in an employee handbook, but offering a verbal review can be helpful, too. Make sure staff are familiar with expectations by quizzing them intermittently.
Report Incidents Promptly
The most important part of a workplace injury is reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities. For employees, this means they should relay the information to a manager, and for business owners, this means they must reach out to the workers’ comp insurance carrier. If your company’s internal protocol requires additional notification to its human resources department or a designated safety supervisor, these parties should be informed of the accident, too.
Complete Injury Reports
An injury report should be created as soon as possible after the incident so that the details are still fresh in all parties’ minds. To complete the report, information should be gathered from the individual who sustained an injury as well as any other staff members who were present. Be sure to include essential information such as the date and time the injury occurred, the names of all individuals involved, and the date the injury report is filed. If the injured employee must complete the form directly, communicate a reasonable deadline and arrange to have it returned via certified mail.
File Claim with Carrier
Finally, once all documentation has been completed, a claim should be filed with your company’s workers’ compensation insurer. Claims can take weeks or months to process, and it’s important to stay in contact with the carrier throughout each step of the claim. In many cases, an employer will need to continuously submit documentation such as the injured party’s medical records or statements made by the employee. Employers should track the status of the claim until it is resolved.
About InsureMyWorkComp
InsureMyWorkComp is a digital brokerage that helps clients find the right workers’ compensation solution for their business needs. Unlike other online platforms, we will help you to work with an agent who can provide you the right solution for your risk profile. Our staff has over 50 years of workers’ compensation underwriting and sales experience, and we are confident that we will provide you the support that you need. For more information or to get a quote, contact us today at (855) 340-9138.