Being able to recover Workers’ Compensation benefits is a daunting process.
Not only are you in pain and potentially losing income, but there is also the added stress of navigating so many different forms, acronyms and procedures to obtain authorization for medical treatment. In this article, I aim to provide my opinion on how you can best set your claim up for success in the early days following your injury. Every case, employee and injury is different, but hopefully some helpful pointers can help you begin to navigate your claim.
Hypothetical:
You are working as a roofer when you lose your footing and fall 2 stories to the ground. You immediately feel pain in your left shoulder, back and left hip.
- Immediately after your injury:
Call for or ask a fellow employee for medical assistance. While you’re waiting for EMS to appear, try to take note of important details surrounding your accident:
– Names of employees who witnessed your fall;
– The name of any other subcontractors or general contractors on scene;
– The address of your fall; and
– Although difficult, you’ll want to obtain photographs of the scene where you fell or ask a trusted friend/employee to do so.
When help arrives, be sure to tell EMS all your ailments and injuries, even though one may be significantly worse than the others. In our hypothetical, if your left shoulder is dislocated, it may take up most of your attention but don’t forget to mention your back and left hip pain as well! Be truthful and honest to your doctors and follow through with their recommended course of treatment. As you obtain medical treatment, try to keep a log of where you treated. If your doctor recommends that you stay out of work be sure to ask for copies of all Out of Work slips or anything giving you physical restrictions or limitations.
- Days following your injury:
Be sure to notify your supervisor, manager or the owner of your company that you suffered an injury while at work. To protect yourself, it is best to do so in writing. Be sure to tell them how long the doctor has kept you out of work and provide them with your Out of Work slip. Ask your employer for his workers’ compensation insurance name and policy information.
There should be a poster easily accessible posted somewhere at your place of employment with this information available to all employees.
- Forms, Forms and More Forms:
– FRI: Ask your employer to fill out a First Report of Injury Form (FRI) and be sure to ask for a copy. Ask your employer if there has bene an insurance adjuster assigned to the case and if so, get their contact information.
– 30C: You’ll also want to fill out of Notice of Claim Form or a Form 30C.
In this form, you’ll include your personal information, where the accident occurred and your employer’s information. If you don’t know their insurance information yet, it is okay to leave it blank. Be sure to mention all body parts injured in the fall. You’ll want to explain how you sustained your injuries and the date it happened. Send this form via certified mail to both your employer and the applicable Workers’ Compensation District in your area. Once this is received, you will have officially opened your claim. The Form 30C can be found here:
https://portal.ct.gov/wcc/knowledge-base/articles/forms/claim-forms
Despite doing all the above, the Workers’ Compensation process can be quite complicated. At times, you may be paid at the incorrect rate; there may be deadlines connected to various Forms received; there may be benefits you may be entitled to but aren’t receiving; there could be general denials of cases that should be approved; and more! Fortunately, New Milford has a wealth of Workers’ Compensation Attorneys who can assist you. By consulting them armed with the information discussed above, you can increase your chances of having your claim accepted.
If you or someone you know was injured in an accident at work, don’t hesitate to contact me to set up a consultation and make sure you’re getting all the proper benefits: 860-350-4800 x 8313.
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