If you suffer an injury while on the job, you must act reasonably quickly if you are to be successful in filing your worker’s compensation claim. A failure to act in a timely manner could result in the denial of your claim and the loss of an opportunity to receive benefits.
As soon as the injury happens, you should notify your employer of the injury so they can provide you with the proper paperwork and guidance of how to proceed. You should then go through the process to file an official worker’s comp claim.
Not just any injury qualifies you for worker’s comp
It’s important to note that to qualify for worker’s compensation, the injury you suffered must have occurred within the scope of your employment.
To qualify for worker’s comp, all of the following factors must exist:
- The accident occurred while you were at work, or performing duties in the scope of your employment
- You are an employee of the business, not an independent contractor
- Your employer has a worker’s compensation policy
Worker’s comp will not cover self-inflicted injuries, injuries caused by reckless negligence or fighting, injuries that happen on your commute to or from work, injuries incurred while committing a crime, injuries that happened while you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or injuries occurred while you were violating company policies. In addition, worker’s compensation is not designed to compensate for mental health issues such as stress or psychiatric issues or injuries.
To learn more about the worker’s compensation process and whether you will qualify when you file your application, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in Bradenton, FL at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh. An attorney can guide you through the application process and help you maximize your chances of receiving benefits.