accident report

If you have been injured on the job, it is extremely important that you report your accident to your supervisor or employer as soon as possible.

After you get injured on the job, Missouri law states you must inform your employer in writing and mention the following details:

• Date, time and place of the injury
• The nature of the injury
• Your name and address

Your employer should have copies of the official form in their office, but if they don’t, you can use the online version here. Then, it is the employer’s responsibility to file the First Report of Injury with the Missouri Division of Workers Compensation.

Here is how the process generally goes.

What’s on You

By law, you are required to fill the official form within 30 days of your injuries. If you miss the mark, you may no longer be able to file for workers comp benefits.

The form contains all the relevant information you have to provide. Before you send in the form, you should make a copy of it for safekeeping, and keep a record of the date you mailed it. You also have the option of hand delivering the form to the employer, in which case you should also clearly record the date and time you handed it in, as well as the name of the person who received it.

Though on the form you don’t need to go into a lot of details about your injury or accident, there are some golden rules to consider:

• Don’t exaggerate your injury
• Be as specific as you can
• Tell the truth

This step is incredibly important, particularly in the event the form gets lost or your employer does not inform the division of your injury, which could potentially impact your benefits. You can call the Division directly to check if your injury has been reported.

What’s on Your Employer

Your employer generally must inform the worker’s comp insurance carrier within a maximum five days from the day of the injury if they are aware of it, or within five days of the date the worker reported the injury.

Then, the injury must be reported either by the employer or the insurance company to the Division within 30 days of gaining knowledge of the injury. This is called the ‘First Report of Injury’ which can be filed electronically.

As a worker, you can check if your injury has been reported to the Division sooner, but if the report is not sent within 30 days, you can inform the Division and they can step in to handle your claim.

Speak with an Experienced Workers Compensation Lawyer

If you have been injured at work, ensure your legal right to compensation is protected by getting in touch with St. Louis workers comp attorney as soon as possible. Small mistakes can hurt your claim and get it dismissed, and after that, it may be a lot more difficult to restart the process and get compensated. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4300 for a FREE case evaluation.

If you have been injured at work, do not assume that your employer and it’s insurance company will set an easy path to compensation for you.

If you’ve been injured on the job and have to miss work for an extended period, workers compensation can feel like a precious gift. It ensures that you have the necessary funds to cover the cost of treatment and sustain yourself until you can return to work.

However, a lot of individuals make the mistake of filing a claim without the help of a St. Louis workers compensation lawyer and aren’t able to face all the legal challenges. Getting compensation for your injuries is your right, that is correct. However, don’t assume that your employer will set an easy path for you.

Here are some tips from our expert lawyer to maximize your claim.

Report Your Injuries Immediately after the Accident

This might be obvious, but you may be surprised how many people neglect this essential step. The first thing that you need to do after a work injury (after you get first aid, of course, ) is reporting the incident to your manager. According to Missouri law, you must report the injury within 30 days after the accident took place. Keep in mind that your notice should be in writing and it must include the time, date, and place the accident occurred.

Seek Medical Aid ASAP

Not only will that prompt medical treatment reduce the time of recovery and minimize the chances of developing any complications, but it also serves as evidence when building your case. If you delay getting medical treatment, then the insurance company could argue that your injuries weren’t that severe and refuse to pay benefits or lower the amount. Likewise, make sure to follow the treatment to the letter and not give the insurance company any reason to suspend your benefits.

Be Prepared for a Private Investigation

It doesn’t take much for the insurance company to argue that your injuries aren’t as debilitating as you claim. A Facebook picture in which you are out with your friends having a drink could be more than enough to have your benefits lifted.

Insurance companies often send private investigators to check up on employees hoping to find evidence that negates your workers compensation claim. For example, if you tell your doctor that you can’t lift weights due to severe back pain, but the investigator catches you carrying groceries, that may be evidence the insurance company could use against you.

You Can Appeal the Insurance Company’s Denial

One mistake that some workers do is giving up after the insurance company denied their claim. While demotivating, denial doesn’t necessarily mean all chances are lost. With an experienced St. Louis work injury lawyer on your side, you can appeal their denial and receive the compensation you deserve. A judge will review your case and schedule a hearing to resolve the dispute.