Carefully documenting your worker’s compensation claim will save time, stress, and expenses. This will also ensure that all legal procedures are followed and that the employee receives the appropriate care. The key to filing this crucial paperwork is organization and calm. When an accident happens, tensions may be high and potentially stressful. The best way to eliminate some of this is to have a game plan set in place for you to efficiently document the incident so that the claim can be processed. This will not only save time but also help you avoid mistakes that would inhibit the claim being processed correctly. Here are few simple steps for documenting a worker’s compensation claim.
Start Documenting Immediately
When an incident happens, begin by writing down or recording the very moment you heard about it. for the claim and compensation to proceed, every detail must be accounted for in order to weigh liability and assess claim options. As the business leader, this also shows that you prioritize your employee and are doing everything in your power to address the event and see it through. Remember, claims must be dealt with in a highly time-sensitive manner, so just tracking your steps and your interactions with the employee will mean you won’t miss key steps.
Get Statements As Soon As Possible
Statements are one of the most important components of the worker’s compensation claim. You must get eye-witness testimony to corroborate what happened and assess how to handle the situation. These documents are also very important for insurance purposes. In addition to the victim, be sure to collect statements from other workers who saw the event, this can be important for you establishing whether the accident happened at work or not, as well as contributing factors. Documenting witness statements as soon as possible will help the information be as fresh and accurate as possible. Don’t wait to collect statements, get them as soon as you can and keep them secure but easily accessible.
Labeling
Labeling the individual documents is very helpful for keeping narratives and evidence in order. The last thing you want is to lose documentation or get things mixed up. Mistakes like this could lead to major delays in the process and potentially affect the compensation package itself. This simple step will help all parties avoid stress by helping you track and prioritize all the information.
Be Patient
While urgency is important, as the business leader, it’s important to be patient with your employees through this process. Not only will this ease tensions and anxieties, but it’ll also comfort your employees and let them relax enough to give their statements and cooperate.
Maintain Communications with The Corporate Insurance Provider
As a small business owner, one of your chief roles is to be the main point of contact with your business’ insurance. When an incident happens, the provider must be made aware so that the process can be on record and proceed. Your provider will also be instrumental in helping arrange for the documents and next steps. Insurance providers may also want to speak with the employee, co-workers, and/or other supervisors to corroborate the story and assess the claim. Make sure to be attentive so that you and your staff can answer any insurance questions in a timely manner.
Avoiding Claims
Most injuries and claims can be avoided. As a small business owner, this is a major responsibility to your staff. For tips on how to avoid worker claims altogether, check out our blog on avoiding negligence in your business. If you’re concerned whether you have the insurance to cover any potential claims, be sure to reach out to us at Freedom Insurance Agency to talk about your Carroll County small business insurance. We’re here to help you find the best protection for you, your business, and your hardworking staff.
