Although Arizona currently ranks as one of the more dangerous states in the U.S., its workplace safety rankings aren’t too bad. That being said, there are still many employees who end up injured each year. If you ever find yourself in that position, you’re obviously going to want to know what can be done about it. While this type of event can be very stressful for an individual and their family, there are steps that can be taken to help remedy the level of financial pressure that’s often created by a workplace injury.
The standard way to deal with this kind of situation is to file a workers’ compensation claim. The state of Arizona requires all employers to carry this kind of coverage. The purpose of workers’ compensation is to provide financial support in the event that someone is hurt during the course of doing their job. The main type of support that workers’ compensation offers is to cover medical expenses. Additionally, this program can provide benefits for lost wages. However, it’s important to understand that those benefits aren’t designed to cover the full amount that someone is used to earning. Instead, this extra component of workers’ compensation functions as a baseline until someone is able to return to work.
Notifying Your Employer, Finding a Phoenix Attorney and More
When an employee injures themselves at work, it’s not uncommon for them to worry about telling their employer. But because all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation coverage, any injury should be reported right away. From there, the employer will notify the insurance company that handles its coverage, as well as the Industrial Commission of Arizona.
The next step in the process is to explain to a doctor how the injury occurred. It’s common for a doctor to be the one that files a claim on behalf of an employee. If that doesn’t happen for some reason, the employee can file their own claim. One thing to keep in mind about meeting with a doctor is under the guidelines of workers’ compensation in Arizona, an employer can require an injured employee to see a specific doctor one time. Although you may ultimately decide to keep seeing that doctor, the choice is yours after the first visit. In many cases, the best option is to visit a specialist who is experienced with the type of injury you have.
At some point, you will begin interacting with an insurance representative. It’s always best to be cooperative and tell the truth. However, you shouldn’t feel pressured to navigate this entire process on your own. Injured employees have a much higher chance of securing a favorable workers’ compensation outcome when they enlist the help of a Phoenix Workers Compensation Attorney. By finding a lawyer in Phoenix who has experience in workers’ compensation, you can get answers to any questions you may have. You’ll also be able to have a knowledgeable professional represent your interests throughout this entire process.