Why Should a Workers’ Compensation Claim Be Filed As Soon As Possible?

Filing a workers’ compensation claim requires businesses to file two types: One with your local workers’ compensation office and a second with your insurance carrier. Not filing can result in a misdemeanor charge.
Before your business reaches this point, there are several reasons why you should file your claim as soon as possible.
Controlling Costs
Quite a few factors can delay a claim: A company may not believe an employee’s injury is work-related or they think the injury is minor enough that a claim doesn’t need to be filed.
Additionally, employees also assist with the reporting process by notifying their employer of the injury. However, employees are often hesitant to move forward, anticipating their employer will blame them for the accident or retaliate. Or, the employee also considers the injury to be minor.
Yet, delaying the claim for any these reasons also increases the costs involved. What can happen?

1. The employee’s condition worsens, which then requires more medical attention and a longer recovery time.
2. There are fewer witnesses and less evidence when the insurance carrier investigates. The lack of evidence and statements draws out the resolution and makes fraud detection far more difficult.
3. The insurance carrier may not have an option to deny a claim. Many states prohibit denials after a certain period.
4. The employer can’t redirect the worker to an occupational health clinic or manage the employee’s care. Financially, a clinic specializing in workers’ compensation injuries focuses on faster healing and a quicker return to work.
5. Your company could face high state fines.
6. The employee’s workers’ compensation benefits may be reduced, particularly if the employee tests positive for drug or alcohol use.

Work Environment
Many businesses do not realize that workers’ compensation claims have an effect on your entire staff. Delaying filing has been known to:

1. Discourage other injured employees from filing workers’ compensation claims, for fear of delays or retaliation.
2. Keep injured employees away from work because of communication delays between you and the insurance carrier.
3. Stop employees from reporting even small injuries, which indicates a safety issue. Even if this incident doesn’t turn into a full-fledged claim, repeat minor incidents show that your working conditions need to be improved.

As a business in Connecticut, you’re required to have workers’ compensation insurance. If you’re searching for a policy or want to know more about filing claims, give us a call at 203.439.2815.