Whether you hurt your back or dropped something on your foot at work, if you believe you have been injured on the job, there are four steps you should take.
- Report Your Injury
- Begin Documenting Everything
- Know Your Work Comp Benefits
- Consider Contacting a Work Comp Attorney
Report Your Work Injury IMMEDIATELY
The very first thing you should do is to make sure your employer knows about your work injury as soon as possible. Tell your employer or use a work injury reporting form, if those are available at your workplace.
It is important to report any work-related injury as soon as you can. Your employer and their insurance carrier have the right to direct your medical care and all care must be authorized by them. In emergency situations, report the injury immediately and request treatment right away. In non-emergency situations, you have up to 90 days to report the injury, but it is important to talk to your employer as soon as possible. When you seek treatment, you should seek your employer’s guidance on approved care providers. When to Report a Work Injury
Begin Documenting Everything
It helps to document everything related to the work injury just in case you need it later on. That includes making copies of any forms you complete at work or the assigned care providers’ office. We also recommend you start a notebook or journal to help you keep track of what happened at work, what the doctor or therapists say, and what you and your employer discuss. Your mileage to appointments related to the work injury are reimbursable. Keep a list of your trips and round trip miles in the notebook. Get all off-work notes or restrictions IN WRITING FROM YOUR DOCTORS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THEIR OFFICE.
Know Your Work Comp Benefits
For your own peace of mind, it is helpful to know what Iowa Work Comp Benefits you are entitled to even before you are injured. When you’ve been injured, knowledge is power. Review the temporary and permanent disability benefits as well as the travel and mileage reimbursement benefits so you can be better informed, should you ever experience a work-related injury. Learn More About Available Benefits.
Contact a Work Comp Attorney
When you are hurt on the job, it can be helpful to consult with a work compensation specialist. The attorneys at Wertz Law specialize in Iowa Workers’ Compensation and ensuring that employees get the benefits they deserve. We can help you take the steps you need to get your injury treated and make a work comp claim, if necessary. Each work injury is different, but we know the laws and can provide you with information that can help you deal with your injury. Learn more about a no-charge consultation with a workers’ compensation attorney.