Knowing what to do following a workplace accident is important for injured workers to be familiar with. Reporting a workplace injury is an important initial step in the process of seeking workers’ compensation disability benefits many injured workers and their families may rely on.
In addition to the value of reporting the workplace accident to begin the process of claiming workers’ compensation benefits, it allows the workplace accident to be investigated which is also important. Employers are required to report workplace injuries to their workers’ compensation insurance carrier within 10 days. Once the insurance carrier has been notified of the injury, they will evaluate liability for the claim which must be approved for the injured worker to receive medical benefits and compensation benefits.
In addition to these requirements, notice for fatal workplace accidents and some other types of workplace accidents must be provided immediately. Injured workers are required to notify their employer of injuries suffered on the job within 4 days. A claim for worker’s compensation benefits is initiated when the insurer sends the report to the Division of Workers’ Compensation in Colorado. Because the process of applying for workers’ compensation benefits can sometimes be complex, and there are many steps to the process, it is helpful for injured workers to understand the process of reporting an injury and applying for benefits. It is also useful for them to understand how their benefits will be determined and calculated.
Workers’ compensation benefits can help with a range of issues injured workers face including their medical expenses and lost wages while they spend time away from work recovering from the injury they have suffered. Because of this, it is important for injured workers to understand as much as possible about the workers’ compensation process in Colorado.