Workers’ compensation is a special type of insurance employers have to cover injuries or illnesses sustained by employees during their time on the job. Depending on the type of condition you experience, you may need to be reimbursed for medical bills, physical therapy costs, and compensation from any time you missed. Filing a claim is the first step in the process of pursuing the money owed to you—here’s how to do it.

Which Documents Should You Have?

If you’ve been injured on the job, you’ll need to report it to your employer. Of course, you may have also already visited a doctor or emergency room to receive treatment for injuries requiring immediate care.

In such cases, you should bring any bills, notes from the physician, and other pertinent documents relating to your injury in to your employer. That way, the paperwork can be filed with your claim to ensure you aren’t held financially responsible.

To complete any required paperwork, you may need to recall information about the injury, including when and where it happened. Thus, it’s wise to bring any notes you have when filing a claim.

How Can You File a Claim?

As mentioned above, the first step to pursuing a workers’ compensation claim is reporting your injury to your employer. In many cases, an injury must be reported within 30 days. Upon notifying your employer, you should receive a set of forms. After you’ve filled these out, the employer should process these with their insurance provider and the state agency.

In some states, you may also need to contact your state workers’ compensation agency directly when first filing your claim. In others, you’ll only need to reach out to the state if your benefits have been denied and you’d like to contest the decision.

In Missouri, for instance, employees only need to notify employers of an injury within 30 days and fill out the required paperwork. The employer or their insurance company is required to provide the funds needed for medical treatment, along with disability benefits from missed work (if applicable).

If an employee believes that further compensation is owed to them, however, they can appeal the decision within 20 days by meeting with a legal team who can help them navigate the process of filing an appeal.

If you’ve been involved in a work-related injury and believe you could be entitled to compensation, contact Coyne, Cundiff & Hillemann, P.C. for help. Serving St. Charles County, MO, this law firm specializes in workers’ compensation cases and has more than 75 years of combined experience. Find out more about their services for employees injured on the job by visiting their website or call (636) 561-5599 to request a free consultation.