What Happens if Your Work Injury is Not Reported?

One of the first things you should do after getting injured in the workplace is to report the accident to your employer. If you don’t report the accident right away, this can cause problems further down the line. To know more about the details of filing a workers’ comp claim, schedule a consultation with Injure Workers Law Firm today. 

What responsibilities does your employer have? 

The workers’ comp laws differ from state to state, but your employer must carry workers’ comp insurance in most states. Some other obligations that your employer has to adhere to are: 

• Your employer must keep an accurate record of all the employees, wages, positions, and workplace accidents.
• Your employer is obligated to report the employees’ job classifications accurately.
• It is illegal to conceal or misrepresent an employee intentionally.
• Your employer can not punish anyone for filing a workers’ comp claim.

Your employer can be penalized if they fail to adhere to their obligations. For example, failure to report a workplace accident on time can lead to a penalty of $2,500 in New York. 

Why is it important to report the accident on time? 

The insurance company requires some time to process and approve your claim, so it is better to report it as soon as possible. Some of the reasons why it is so important to report the accident on time are: 

• The injured employee can start receiving the workers’ comp benefits quicker.
• The injured employee will be able to return to work sooner.
• Reporting on time is a great help to the insurance company in administering and monitoring the claim.
• There are chances that the overall cost of the claim may be reduced if you report quickly.

What will happen if you do not report the injury on time? 

The deadlines for reporting a work-related accident differ from state to state. In some states, it is 90 days; in others, it can be as short as ten days. If you fail to report your accident within the deadlines set by your state’s laws, you may not be able to receive compensation for your losses. If your employer refuses to file your workers’ comp claim, you should immediately talk to a workers’ comp lawyer and protect your rights. 

Get legal help for your workers’ comp claim.  

If you have sustained an injury on the job, you deserve to receive compensation. Schedule a consultation with an experienced workers’ comp attorney and get legal help filing your workers’ comp claim without any mistakes.