However, injured workers must follow the rules for getting benefits. Read on to better understand the process for filing a claim.
Receive Medical Treatment
Your health and safety should be your first priorities, so seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
If you can’t get to the hospital, ask someone to take you or call emergency medical services.
Remember to follow your doctor’s treatment so that you can improve as rapidly as possible and return to work.
Notify Your Employer of Your Injury
You should report your injury to your employer no later than 30 days after the accident. However, you should notify your employer as soon as possible.
If your injuries are not life-threatening, you can notify them even before you go seek medical treatment. Failure to promptly inform your employer of the accident can result in delayed or denied benefits.
Check that Your Employer Notified their Insurer
Your employer should promptly notify their insurer of your injury. Remember to follow up with your employer to check whether they have forwarded the appropriate paperwork.
If there is a delay, then there will be a delay in your receiving benefits.
The Insurer Determines whether You Qualify for Benefits
In some cases, the insurer will swiftly approve you for benefits, but some injured workers are denied. Common reasons for denials include:
- You didn’t report your injury in a timely fashion
- You didn’t suffer the injury in the course of employment
- Your injuries aren’t sufficiently serious
- Your injury isn’t covered by the insurance policy
The insurer should send you a letter notifying you of the results. If you qualify for benefits, you will be told when they start and the amount you will receive.
If you are denied, the letter should identify the reasons for your denial. After being denied, you should consult with a workers’ compensation attorney for advice about how to improve your chances of being approved.
Bring an Appeal, if Necessary
If you are denied benefits, you can appeal by filing paperwork with the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission. You can present your case to them and provide additional evidence of your injuries if you have any.
The commission will issue a written decision, which you can then appeal if you are denied again. A workers’ compensation lawyer is a big help throughout the entire appeals process.
Speak with a Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Workers’ compensation benefits are vitally important for injured workers and their families. They can subsidize the costs of medical care and replace at least a portion of your lost wages. If you have suffered an accident at work and been denied benefits, we want to hear from you.
At the Harris Law Firm, we have helped countless injured workers can the benefits they need to get back on their feet. We understand how to make a case that the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission finds persuasive. Contact our workers’ compensation legal team today to schedule your free case evaluation.
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