If you find yourself in a work accident, you deserve compensation for your time, medical costs, and suffering. But you may be wondering—how long does this process take? The timeframe for when you can expect payment for work-related accidents is dependent on the type of claim, the severity of the injuries, and how you choose to pursue the injury claim.
Document
As with any legal process, proper documentation is required for a workers’ compensation claim. To collect the maximum allowable wage replacement from workers’ comp, you’ll want to provide as much information as possible and document the entire process. Provide a written account of how the accident occurred, your injuries, and what your recovery entailed, both physically and emotionally. Also be sure to take pictures of your injuries and anything else that may provide additional context.
Notify
When injured at work, you should notify your employer of the injury as soon as possible and get whatever time off they need to recover. There is often a deadline, so be sure to tell your employer right away. You should also get a workers’ compensation lawyer who will help guide you through the process. Your attorney can help you make a compensation claim to the employer’s insurance company.
How Long Does It Take?
The length of the workers’ compensation process depends on the type of injury you’re dealing with. For example, if you’re dealing with carpal tunnel or chronic back pain, it could take weeks to years, depending on when your injury reaches the point when it has healed as much as possible. Thus, it is essential to get a workers’ compensation lawyer to help you through this lengthy process. But according to the Department of Labor and Industries, the average time it takes for an injured worker to receive compensation is 19.4 weeks—the median is 11 weeks. You should anticipate several months to fully complete the process.
Conclusion
If you have sustained a work injury in the past, you may be concerned about insurance benefits. Understand that each state has its workers’ compensation regulations that can affect how long it will take to get compensated. In addition, the severity of the injury plays a large part. Be patient throughout this process and don’t hesitate to reach out to professionals for help.
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.
