If you’re working and get hurt, do you know what you can do to help yourself? One of the best things you can do after seeking medical care is to reach out to your employer to start your workers’ compensation claim.
When you report your injury, your employer should begin the process for your claim. They are required to report your injury and may be subject to an inspection or investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Sometimes, workers like yourself may have trouble filing a claim because your employer may not carry coverage like they’re supposed to. Missouri requires any employer who has five or more employees, as well as employers who have at least one employee in the construction industry, to have workers’ compensation coverage. If your employer doesn’t, then you may have other ways of pursing compensation from them directly.
What resources are available to workers who are hurt on the job?
Workers’ compensation provides you with the medical treatment and care that is needed to relieve you from the effects of any injury you’ve suffered. You may also be entitled to additional benefits such as temporary total disability, permanent partial disability or permanent total disability, depending on the severity of your injuries. You may also have access to vocational rehabilitation and other services if you decide to return to work.
If your claim goes through but you disagree with the outcome, you can file an application for review through the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission (LIRC). Your attorney can help you file this within 20 days of the award issued by a judge.