An accident at work can happen when you least expect it. Depending on the situation, you could sustain serious injuries that make it difficult to get back to work and perform the functions of everyday life.
When you get hurt on the job, you can become eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, you must report your accident appropriately to prevent a denial of your claim to compensation.
Tell your healthcare provider
When you go to see a physician about your work-related injury, let him or her know that the appointment is for a workplace accident. By knowing this, your healthcare provider can bill the treatment provided as a claim for workers’ compensation.
Inform your employer
As quickly as you can, let your manager or employer know about the accident that occurred. If you cannot tell your employer about the accident because of your injury, ask a friend, family member or the physician you saw to let your employer know.
Provide written notice
The North Carolina Industrial Commission states that you must provide your employer with written notice regarding the workplace accident within 30 days of it happening. All you need to include in this notice is the date the accident happened and a short summary of your injuries.
If you follow this notification procedure, you can protect your right to compensation for medical care, lost wages and vocational training through the workers’ compensation system. If you do not complete this process, you could put your right to these benefits at risk.
