What is WC?

Worker’s compensation is a state-mandated program that offers payments and compensation no matter who was at fault for the injury. All employers in California are required to carry workers, compensation insurance, and they are required to provide benefits to injured employees. In addition to workplace accidents, illnesses that occur as a result of working and injuries resulting from repeated exposures at work, such as hurting your wrist from motion repetition, are also eligible for workers, compensation benefits.

What to do First

If you find yourself injured at work, it is important to report the injury and seek medical treatment immediately.

Reporting the injury

Similar to other medical claims, there is a limited time to report on-the-job injuries. As soon as possible after you realize you have been hurt at your job, you need to report it. There should be a chain of command at your place of employment for doing this. Often, you need to report to your immediate supervisor first, and they will report it on from there. Once you have reported the injury, you should be given a form to fill out in order to file the claim. Sometimes employees fear that their employer will treat them differently or be upset with them if they
want to make a worker’s compensation claim. However, it is illegal for you to have any negative consequences due to a claim.

Seeking Medical Treatment

The other important thing to do is to seek out medical treatment as soon as possible. The physician’s charting and notes will be reviewed to determine if your claim is valid. Remember that if you want to receive compensation from the worker’s compensation policy, you will have to have your initial visit with a network approved doctor. This is another reason why it is important to report your claim right away. The person at your employer’s office who is responsible for these claims will guide you through the process, which includes seeing an approved doctor.

Benefits & Rights

While the payments aren’t always high, a workers’ compensation policy provides a range of different benefits, most of which are centered around the kinds of compensation that you’ll receive when injured. The coverage that’s provided by a workers’ compensation policy includes expenses like

● Bills related to medical care
● Lost wages
● Any costs for retraining once the injury has healed,
● Additional compensation for permanent injuries, and
● Benefits that are provided to family members of a worker who was killed while on the job.

Conclusion

The worker’s compensation system can be daunting, but it shouldn’t have to be. Our knowledgeable and experienced attorneys will be able to guide you through the entire process to ensure that you are receiving medical treatment and benefits you are entitled to.

Contact us today for a free consultation.