If you get injured on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Learn more about workers comp benefits and what you should do if you are injured or hurt at work.
Workers’ compensation benefits cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs related to an injury sustained while working. These benefits are available for injuries that occur in the course of employment.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation benefits are designed to help employees who suffer work-related injuries. They provide financial assistance to compensate employees for medical bills, lost wages, and any other losses caused by workplace accidents. A work accident is defined as an unexpected event happening suddenly and violently, with or without fault, and producing at the time objective symptoms of an injury.
When Should I File A Claim?
It’s important to file a claim as soon as possible after an injury occurs. To file a claim, the injured worker must fill out a C-4 form. It is not enough that an employer knows about a work injury, or that the injured worker gives his employer a written accident report. The injured worker must also complete a C-4 form with a doctor to get a claim started.
What is a C-4 Form?
The C-4 Claim form asks the injured worker for a date the injury occurred. In addition to asking the injured worker how and when the injury happened, the C-4 form asks what body parts were injured. The injured worker must not be careless when giving the date & details of the accident. Additionally, the bottom portion is completed by a doctor and lists your diagnosis. A claim form must be filed within 90 days of the accident.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive from my Work Injury?
Workers’ compensation benefits vary based on the type of injury and the severity of the injury. For more detailed information about how work comp benefits are calculated, see my previous post “How Benefits Are Calculated in Nevada”.
How Long Does The Workers Compensation Process Take?
It’s important to understand how long the process takes before filing a claim. Below is a timeline summary of the workers’ compensation process:
- The injured worker has 7 days to report the work injury to the employer.
- The injured worker then has 90 days to notify the insurance company of the injury by completing a C-4 Form with the doctor.
- The insurance company then has 30 days to accept or deny the workers comp claim.
- The injured worker as then has 70 days to appeal a determination by the insurance company to the Hearings Office. This can be the claim acceptance, denial, or any other determination by the insurance company.
- An injured worker can appeal a Hearing Officer’s decision and order to the appeals office within 30 days.
- And finally, an injured worker has another 30 days to file for a Petition for Judicial Review of an Appeals Officer’s Decision and Order with the District Court.
As shown in my “Timeline for Filing A Workers’ Compensation Claim” Infographic. This information is regarding timelines specific to deadlines in litigation. The overall length of a workers’ compensation claim can vary depending on an individual’s recovery and the complexity of the claim.
Why Should I Hire A Workers Compensation Attorney?
A workers’ comp lawyer assists injured workers with serious injuries that can benefit from having an attorney guide them through medical treatment, receiving benefits for being out of work, the settlement process, and any necessary vocational training. That service includes representation at all hearings at all levels, and attendance at rating evaluations, and help with reopening claims.
