After an injury at work in Oklahoma City, workers’ compensation benefits can help ease the financial burden of medical bills and lost wages. Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that provides benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.
To be eligible for benefits, your injury must have occurred while performing your job duties. Consulting an Oklahoma City workers’ compensation attorney is key to gaining your benefits and meeting critical deadlines.
Meet Workers’ Comp Deadlines: Follow These 5 Steps
Navigating a workers’ compensation claim is complex and involves strict deadlines. Missing these deadlines can significantly impact your eligibility for benefits or even disqualify you from receiving compensation altogether.
Here are the five crucial deadlines you need to be aware of:
1. Report Your Injury Immediately and File an Incident Report:
Time is of the essence when it comes to workers’ compensation claims. In Oklahoma, you are legally obligated to notify your employer of your work-related injury as soon as possible.
The sooner you report the injury, the better. If possible, you should notify your supervisor or HR department withinthe same day the injury occurs.
In addition to notifying your employer verbally, most companies will require you to complete a formal incident report. This report helps them document the details of your injury, including the date, time, location, and cause. Complete the incident report accurately and keepa copy for your records.
2. File Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Within One Year
While notifying your employer promptly is essential, there’s a separate deadline for filing an official workers’ compensation claim with the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission. Generally, you have oneyear from the date of your injury to file your claim. Missing this deadline can result in your claim being denied.
3. Seek Medical Attention and Follow Employer-Approved Doctors If Required
Seeking medical attention for your work injury is crucial for your health and workers’ compensation claim.
Understanding your employer’s workers’ compensation policy regarding medical treatment is essential. Some employers require employees to seek treatment from a pre-selected network of doctors.
While emergency care is usually exempt from this requirement, allfollow-up treatment may need to be provided by an employer-approved physician to be covered by workers’ compensation. If you’re unsure about your employer’s policy, clarify it with your HR department as soon as possible.
4. Appeal a Denied Claim Within 10 Days
Unfortunately, the insurance company might deny your workers’ compensation claim. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no hope.
Oklahoma law allows you to appeal a denied claim within 10 days of the date of the file-stamped order being appealed. The appeals process can be complex, and having an experienced Oklahoma City workers’ compensation attorney by your side can significantly increase your chances of a successful appeal.
H2: An Oklahoma City Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help
Workers’ compensation claims can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with deadlines and complex legal procedures. An experienced Oklahoma City workers’ compensation attorney from Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the entire process, ensure you meet all deadlines, file the necessary paperwork accurately, and fight for the maximum benefits you deserve.
Even if you’ve already filed a claim without an attorney and it was denied, our skilled legal team can help you with the appeals process. Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your case and learn how we can help you get the workers’ compensation benefits you’re entitled to receive. Meeting deadlines is crucial, so don’t wait—contact us today!
