Getting hurt at work can bring your life to a sudden halt. You may find yourself not earning any income, unable to return to your job and worrying about the future. Some people even worry about whether or not they can afford the medical treatments necessary to get them back to work.
Thankfully, Minnesota workers’ compensation insurance benefits help protect those who get hurt as a result of their gainful employment. The benefits that someone can receive from workers’ compensation include medical benefits that will cover 100% of the costs associated with the necessary care an injured worker requires. Total coverage eliminates co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance that might otherwise make treatment cost-prohibitive.
Workers’ compensation can also provide temporary or even permanent disability benefits to workers who can’t continue earning a wage because of their workplace injury. As an injured worker, you will be the one who files the claim. A third-party insurance company will be the one that approves and pays the claim. What role does your employer have in all of this?
Your employer authenticates your claim to a workplace injury
One of the most important tasks an employer performs during a workers’ compensation claim is the completion of the First Report of Injury Form. This form serves as an official record of the incident that led to your injury and your attempt to report the issues to your employer.
The details that your employer includes on this form, as well as the speed with which they complete it, will influence the way that the insurance company responds to your claim. Ensuring that you report your injury to your employer as soon as possible can help ensure that they have the information they need to aid you in your claim.
Employers can play a key role in getting you back to work
If you suffer an injury at work, continuing to perform the same task you previously had may not be an option depending on the nature of the injury and how severe it is. However, many workers find that they can return to the job after a brief leave of absence, provided that their employer accommodates their injury.
Your employer may be able to work with you by adjusting your job responsibilities, providing assistive technology or even allowing you to do your job remotely so that you can rest at home.