Most employees in the state have access to workers’ compensation coverage through their employer in the event they get hurt or sick while performing work-related tasks. However, the benefits provided by workers’ comp are not just given automatically after an accident or illness, and making even one minor mistake while applying for these benefits could lead to unnecessary delays and denials.
The answers and information you need when you have questions about how to apply for workers’ compensation in South Windsor are available from an experienced local workers’ comp attorney from Berman & Russo. With a track record of achieving good case results on behalf of injured employees throughout the state, our team is ready to help you through the process.
The first thing anyone should do after discovering they have gotten hurt or sick as a result of their job duties is to report that injury or illness to their immediate supervisor at work. Waiting even a few days after learning of a work-related injury or illness could delay receiving much-needed benefits and potentially in your claim being rejected outright because of your failure to follow proper procedures.
That said, this step in the South Windsor workers’ comp application process can be complicated if a work-related injury or illness does not have obvious symptoms right away. This could be the case for overexertion injuries or repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel or rotator cuff issues. In a situation like this, support from experienced legal counsel is crucial to proving that an injured or sick employee reported their condition as soon as they became aware of it and that they did not violate the rules applicable to applying for workers’ compensation.
As quickly as possible after reporting a work-related injury or illness to their supervisor, an injured employee should seek immediate medical care. In many situations, they will need to seek treatment specifically by a healthcare provider approved by their employer, as they may otherwise be denied workers’ comp benefits for seeking treatment out of network. It is also vital to keep paper records of all treatment, medical reports, and related bills and follow all instructions from treating physicians to the letter. Working with our team as early in the process of applying for workers’ compensation in South Windsor as possible could help ensure none of these important details are missed. We could also guide injured employees on where to go for treatment and ensure they are receiving the appropriate care.
Most importantly, workers’ comp claimants in South Windsor actually have to apply directly for benefits themselves, rather than their employer doing most of that work for them, as is the case in other states. Specifically, a prospective claimant must complete Form 30C and submit it to the state Workers’ Compensation Commission as soon as possible after notifying their employer. Failing to complete this form properly will result in the WCC not being aware that the worker is seeking benefits at all.
In theory, employers or insurance companies who are properly notified of a workers’ comp claim must either formally reject the claim or begin paying benefits within 28 days of receiving notice. In practice, though, there are many reasons why payment may be delayed, or a claim may be rejected on less than solid grounds.
For this reason, among many others, having skilled legal representation on your side could be all but essential to getting through the application process smoothly and keeping your claim on track once you have done everything you are supposed to do. Call today to learn more about how to apply for workers’ compensation in South Windsor.