5 Things You Must Do When an Employee Files a Workers Comp Claim
Thousands of people are injured at work yearly. While that number is probably one you’ve heard thrown around before and have largely ignored, when you become the employer of the person that slips and falls, the repercussions of workplace injuries become all too real.
From dealing with attorneys to having to manage insurance agents, the process of staying on top of the workmans comp claim process can be a tricky one. Fortunately, there are proven steps you can take to mitigate damage from workplace accidents and move your company towards a positive result.
Below, we outline what five of those steps are.
1. Be Supportive of Your Employee
Nothing looks worse than an employer hazing an injured employee. Not only will this rub an employee the wrong way which may lead them to take more aggressive legal action but if your case were to come before a jury, jurors would likely be swayed by negative antics perpetrated by a manager or business owner.
To avoid that headache, be a resource for your employee when it comes to filing a workmans comp claim. Let them know that you value them and work with companies like Light Duty Pathway that help employees get back to their jobs as soon as possible.
Anything you can do to show that you’re part of the solution and not part of the problem will go a long way.
2. Take Down All Facts Relevant to Your Case
Just because you’re supporting your employee through their injury doesn’t mean that you should ignore facts critical to their accident. It may very well be that their negligence, not your company’s, is what caused the event.
To help uncover the truth, immediately take down all facts relevant to your employee’s accident including times, dates and witness statements.
3. A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
Take photos of anything having to do with your employee’s workmans comp claim as soon as possible after an accident. The less disturbed the accident scene is, the better.
When it comes to building a case, your company’s representation is going to have a much easier time being effective if they have visual proof to share.
4. Be Present During Meetings and Depositions
If meetings or depositions are arranged where your employee is going to speak to what happened, as a manager/business owner, you should attend. By attending, you can answer key questions that parties may have which could affect the outcome of a claim.
5. When New Evidence Comes to Light, Share It
The case surrounding a workmans comp claim is typically an evolving one. If you find new evidence regarding what took place, share it with your company’s representation, no matter how small the information may seem.
Over communicating is always better than under communicating when it comes to issues that could cost your business or insurer hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Truth Is What Should Matter Most When It Comes to a Workmans Comp Claim
The reason your company has workmans comp claim insurance is to support employees and save your business when accidents occur. Because of that, you shouldn’t be invested in ensuring your team members don’t get their benefits.
What you should be invested in is making sure that outcomes are always fair so your insurance protection isn’t abused by rouge team members and so good workers have the financial support they need.
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