Most employers in Illinois are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance policies. This type of coverage makes it possible to pay your medical bills in the event that you’re hurt at work. It also ensures that you’ll be able to make up a portion of any wages lost while recovering from a workplace accident. However, there are certain actions that you will need to avoid during the claim process if you want to be compensated in a timely manner.
Don’t wait to file an accident report
You may have as little as 48 hours after an accident occurs to report it to your employer. It’s generally in your best interest to submit a written claim as opposed to doing so orally. This provides you with a document to refer to in the event that your employer tries to deny that an accident took place. It can also be used as evidence that your supervisor was told about an incident in a timely manner.
In addition to reporting the accident in a timely manner, you’ll also want to submit your claim as quickly as possible. A workers’ compensation attorney may be able to do so on your behalf on the day that he or she is hired to represent your interests.
Don’t wait to seek medical treatment
Ideally, you will seek treatment for your injuries immediately after an accident takes place. You will likely need to see a medical professional of your employer’s choosing at some point during the claims process. However, you can seek an initial diagnosis from any qualified medical professional who is willing to see you. By seeing a doctor as quickly as possible, it becomes easier to establish that a workplace accident was the proximate cause of your injuries.
If you’re hurt at work, you should hire an attorney to represent your interests during the claim process. He or she may be able to submit your claim, take steps to ensure that it gets processed in a timely manner or appeal a decision to deny your request for benefits.