What is a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Denver?

When workers suffer injuries on the job in Denver, it is not long before they hear about workers’ compensation. This can be a confusing topic and often leads to the employee wondering what a workers’ compensation claim is.

It is important for any injured employee to know what workers’ compensation is and how to apply for it. If you have any questions about the claims process, speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you answer the question, “what is a workers’ compensation claim in Denver?”

Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance intended to protect employees who suffer injuries while they are on the job because of their work duties. Without workers’ compensation, after an employee suffers an injury, they may face financial hardship when trying to pay medical bills, and due to missing weeks, or even months, of work.

Steps to Take After a Work Injury in Denver

The employee must notify their boss of the injury in writing within four days of the incident. Even when the employer is told verbally about the injury, the employee must still provide notice within writing, and it must be within the four-day period.

An employee may still be eligible for benefits if they provide written notice later than four days within the injury. But those benefits may be reduced by one day’s worth of compensation for every day they do not provide written notice. It is best to provide this written notification as soon as possible and, in most cases, before a claim is even submitted to the insurance company.

To be eligible for workers’ compensation, an injured employee must submit a claim to the insurance company. There is no one insurance company that oversees all workers’ compensation claims, but many. The insurance company a claim must be submitted to will depend on the insurance company used by the employer. The employer will also likely have a list of approved healthcare professionals that can treat and diagnose the injury. To be eligible for benefits, the injured employee must only see a doctor on this list.

What if the Employee was At Fault for their Injury?

Many individuals think that they cannot make a workers’ compensation claim in Denver because they were fully or partially at fault for they injury. But fault is not taken into consideration in Denver workers’ compensation claims. This means that a worker can still receive workers’ compensation benefits even if the accident or injury was their fault. If the injury occurred while the employee was working, they will be eligible for benefits.

Workers’ Compensation Application Process

Filing a workers’ compensation claim, however, is a complicated process. Claims can be denied for many reasons including that the employee did not include the correct insurance company on the claim form or because the injury report was not specific enough.

Workers’ compensation claims in Denver seem simple at first, but they can quickly become complicated. There may be disputes regarding if the injury happened at work, such as if the employee was hurt while on a break but still on the employer’s property. In some instances, there may also be debate regarding the amount of the employee’s gross pay.

For instance, a construction worker that becomes hurt in the middle of winter is likely not making as much as they would in the middle of summer. But if the recovery period is going to extend into the summer, the employee may argue that their summer total gross pay should be used.

Speak with a Denver Workers’ Compensation Attorney

After the loss of a loved one, you may be asking “what is a workers’ compensation claim in Denver?” For this reason, it is always advisable to work with a workers’ compensation attorney that can help with the claim. An attorney will be able to explain exactly what a workers’ compensation claim in Denver is, and can help ensure that the initial claim is filled out as completely and accurately as possible. This will give injured employees the best chance of getting their claim approved and receiving benefits, rather than having their claim denied.