| On the job injuries can have devastating impacts for | | | | injured worker can receive time loss benefits. |
| workers. In an instant, an employee can go from being | | | | Thereafter, the injured worker must keep and attend |
| a healthy, productive worker, to being in significant pain | | | | all scheduled appointments. They must also keep in |
| and unable to work. While an employee's first thoughts | | | | contact with their workers compensation claims |
| may be to get medical treatment or want to know | | | | adjuster and employer. The injured worker must also |
| how quickly they can get back to work, there are | | | | read all letters and notices received regarding their |
| certain responsibilities they must adhere to be in | | | | claim and keep copies all letters sent and received. |
| compliance with the law. Following a work injury, | | | | Once the injured worker has been cleared to return to |
| employees must immediately it, or as soon as possible | | | | work by their health care provider, they must contact |
| after the accident. If the injury is not reported within the | | | | their employer immediately. If an employee has a |
| prescribed period, the workers compensation claim | | | | permanent injury, they may qualify for vocational |
| may be rejected. Forms required to initialize the claim | | | | assistance with job retraining and placement. |
| must be filled out promptly and returned to the | | | | It is typically in everyone's best interest for the injured |
| appropriate insurance company or state agency. | | | | employee to get back to work as soon as possible. |
| Employees who need medical treatment after a work | | | | Returning to work speed can speed the injured |
| injury must inform their health care provided that their | | | | employee's recovery and reduces the financial impact |
| injury occurred on the job. The medical provider will | | | | on the worker, the employer, and the workers |
| then bill the workers compensation insurer or state | | | | compensation insurance system. Even if the injured |
| agency who administers claims for the treatment. If | | | | employee is unable to get back to their job right away |
| the employee's injury is substantial enough to require | | | | following the accident, the employer may be able to |
| time loss from work, the time loss must be authorized | | | | find light duty work for which they are qualified, thus |
| by a health care provider. In most states, there is a | | | | relieving the strain of an employee injury for all. |
| two week waiting period after the incident until the | | | | |