How to Apply for Workers’ Compensation in Enfield

When you are injured at work, a whole avalanche of problems can follow – lost wages, medical bills, and perhaps the necessity of vocational retraining or rehabilitation. Fortunately, the state of Connecticut has a workers’ compensation program designed to provide a safety net for workers injured on the job.

The process of applying for workers’ compensation benefits in Enfield is not simple. It involves multiple steps, and there is always the possibility of a denial or challenge by the Workers’ Compensation Commission (W.C.C.). This is why retaining the services of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney is so useful.

Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Process

One of the first steps in any workers’ compensation case in Enfield is to notify your employer of the workplace injury or illness. This is not only good practice, but a requirement under the Connecticut workers’ compensation law. After this, you should seek medical treatment and generate an incident report. You should also fill out Form 30C (Notice of Claim for Compensation) and send it to both your employer and the W.C.C. by certified mail. You do not need to wait for your employer to make an incident report before preparing Form 30C, and you should not wait to file, as there is a one-year limit on filing for benefits.

After your initial filing, the process becomes more complicated as your employer and their insurer evaluate your injury and claim. Your employer should make arrangements for you to receive benefits directly from the insurer. Your employer and their insurer may also try to challenge, reduce, or deny your claim. Working with an attorney early on in the process can help you get the maximum benefits available to you.

Additionally, there may be additional steps for filing for temporary disability payments. It is crucial to work with a seasoned Enfield workers’ compensation attorney when applying for benefits to ensure you are aware of any and all requirements.

What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Available?

Connecticut has a generous workers’ compensation program that provides a full range of benefits to ill or injured employees, including medical expenses, disability, lost wages, and vocational retraining or rehabilitation. An experienced Enfield workers’ compensation attorney can help assemble a full list of costs to be used in applying for workers’ compensation benefits, to obtain the maximum benefits allowed under the law.

If a claim is denied or challenged, our team can also handle the hearings and appeals before the W.C.C. When a claim fails, you might be able to pursue a third-party personal injury claim against your employer.

Other Ways an Attorney Can Help

Employers often have their own insurance policies, outside of the workers’ compensation system, covering employee illnesses and injuries. An experienced Enfield workers’ compensation attorney might be able to negotiate with the insurance company for a settlement, either as a supplement to workers’ compensation benefits or as an alternative, if a claim is denied.

The full range of options available to an injured worker will depend on the employer, the injury, and a litany of other factors. Our team can provide the full picture of what it takes to succeed in a workers’ compensation claim and help to investigate and substantiate a claim to maximize its chances of succeeding.

Contact an Enfield Workers’ Compensation Attorney for Help Applying for Benefits

Knowing how to apply for workers’ compensation in Enfield is an important part of getting the benefits you need after sustaining a workplace injury. While workers’ comp is meant to help protect injured workers, obtaining what you need is often complex, and even a small misstep in the process could result in an unfair delay or denial.

Contact the caring local team at Berman, Russo & Merwin today for a free consultation.