Work-related illnesses and injuries can cause you immense stress. This is because of the pain you experience, the paperwork involved in the claims process, and the uncertainty about getting workers’ comp benefits. To make the process of filing a claim less intimidating, here are some basics you need to know.
What Is the Time Period to File a Claim?
You have up to a year to file a workers’ comp claim, but you should file your claim as soon as possible after a workplace incident. Filing your claim essentially means filing the claim with the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission. Your employer won’t do this for you. So, you should either personally file it or hire an attorney to help you with the process.
What Happens If You Don’t Report the Injury in Time?
To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you need to file your claim within a given time frame. You should start the filing process immediately after you notice signs of work-related sickness or sustain an injury.
Can You Be Fired for Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Your employer can’t penalize, demote, or fire you for filing a workers’ comp claim in Connecticut. Nonetheless, some employers may unlawfully retaliate against workers who’ve filed a workers’ comp claim. If you think your employer’s actions against you are retaliatory because of your filing a workers’ comp claim, you must seek legal assistance immediately.
What Forms Should You Sign?
If your employer or your employer’s workers’ comp insurer asks you to sign any forms, you shouldn’t sign them until you’ve secured legal representation. Your employer and their workers’ comp insurer may try to deny your claim or approve fewer workers’ comp benefits than you’re entitled to. Therefore, ensure you talk to an attorney before signing any workers’ comp claim-related documents.
What If My Employer Refuses to File an Accident or Incident Report for My Injury?
If you sustain a work-related injury, you should inform your employer as soon as possible. If your employer isn’t willing to file an incident or accident report, you should get legal help immediately. Employers can be hard to work with when it comes to workplace injury cases. However, they are legally obligated to compensate employees who’re injured on the job. If you think your employer is making the filing process more difficult or trying to block your claim, you should seek legal help.
What Can You Do If Your Claim Is Rejected After a Formal Hearing?
Some employers attempt to block claims to avoid the cost of paying them. In case your claim is rejected, you may appeal the decision. You should, however, get legal help to increase your chances of getting approved on appeal.
Can the Insurers Follow You Around?
In Connecticut, sometimes insurers use investigators to look into claimants’ backgrounds to determine if their claims are false or exaggerated. Such investigations may entail:
- talking to your neighbors,
- checking your posts on social media,
- taking pictures, and
- recording videos of you
At Reardon Agency, we protect the employer, save them from losing valuable business assets and help compensate their employees through customized workers’ compensation insurance policies in Connecticut. Contact us today to learn more!
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