Workers’ compensation in Tennessee is a valuable program that provides medical care and benefits to employees who have been injured at work.
However, to receive workers’ compensation benefits, you must follow a strict set of rules and procedures to file a claim. Failing to follow these rules can undermine your case and may leave you with few options to obtain compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages.
If you are injured in a workplace accident, completing the following three steps may help you receive the workers’ compensation benefits you need. However, if your claim is denied or your employer’s insurer approves you for inadequate benefits, do not hesitate to contact Greg Coleman Law’s skilled workers’ compensation attorneys in Knoxville for qualified legal help.
1. Report the Injury
The first step you should take after a work-related injury is to report it to your employer.
In Tennessee, you have 15 days to report your injury after your accident or after a doctor discovers you have suffered a work-related injury.
Once you have reported your injury, your employer will complete the required forms to process your claim. However, the faster you report the injury, the faster your application can be processed.
To protect your claim, you should request that your employer provide you with a copy of your accident report.
2. Seek Medical Care
After you have informed your employer of your injury, you should be provided with an “Agreement between Employer/Employee Choice of Physician” (Form C-42).
This form will contain a list of three local doctors who have been approved by your employer and its insurer. You must choose one of the doctors on this list to provide medical treatment for your work-related injury.
However, if you need emergency medical treatment after your injury, do not wait until your employer has provided you with an approved physician. You should be taken immediately to the nearest hospital emergency room.
The doctor that you choose will be your “authorized treating physician.” This will be the physician that provides all of the medical treatment you require to heal your injury at no cost to you.
During your initial visit with your authorized physician, you should inform him or her that your injury is work-related and describe the accident that caused it. You should also inform your physician of any symptoms, pain or physical restrictions you have experienced since acquiring the injury.
Once your physician has diagnosed your injury, he or she will determine if your injury restricts your ability to perform the regular duties of your job. If your injury limits the duties you are able to perform, your physician should provide your employer and its insurer with a notice describing your limitations.
If your treating physician determines that your injury prevents you from working altogether, you may be entitled to compensation for partial lost wages.
3. Call a Lawyer
If you have followed all of the required steps to file a workers’ compensation claim in Tennessee and your employer or its insurer disputes your claim, contact a qualified attorney immediately.
Our skilled workers’ compensation attorneys will review your claim during a free, no obligation consultation to determine if your claim was unjustly denied or you were provided too few benefits for your injury.
We will oversee your claim to work with the insurance company and your employer so that you are treated fairly and provided with the medical treatment and compensation for lost wages that you are eligible for.
Your attorney will assist you with all legal matters regarding your workers’ compensation claim. This includes helping you determine the benefits you may be owed and guiding you through Tennessee’s workers’ compensation appeals process.
You may not even realize that you are not getting all of the compensation or treatment you deserve in your case because most workers are generally unfamiliar with the workers’ compensation system in Tennessee.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Attorneys Today
If you are injured in a work-related accident, you must follow Tennessee’s procedures to file a workers’ compensation claim and receive financial support for your injury.
However, if you are in need of legal help after filing a claim with your employer, Greg Coleman Law’s Knoxville personal injury lawyers will fight for your right to receive the benefits you deserve.
We will provide you with a free, no obligation initial consultation to review your claim and determine if you have a valid case. We will explain step-by-step how we will handle your claim. We work only on a contingency fee basis, which means you only have to pay us if we recover compensation for your claim.
Complete our Free Case Evaluation form to get started today.
