TIPS FOR REPORTING A WORKPLACE INJURY IN MISSOURI

You deserve workers' compensation benefits if you sustain a work-related injury. However, the Division of Workers' Compensation has specific requirements for what you must do before you can claim the benefits. One of the requirements is that you must report the injury to your supervisor or employer. Below are some tips to help you report your injury correctly.

Report Immediately

Report your injury as soon as it occurs. States have different deadlines for reporting injuries. Missouri gives you 30 days within which to report your injury. A delay will complicate your workers' compensation claim. In the worst-case scenario, you might even lose your benefits.

Prompt reporting isn't just a legal requirement; it also strengthens your workers' compensation claim. Reporting your injury right away means the evidence is still available, and the incident is still fresh in the eyewitnesses' memories. Those two things can help you prove how your injury relates to your work, which is crucial to your claim.

Report to the Right Person

Make your injury report to the right person. The right person should be your supervisor or your employer. They are the people who know:

• How to make injury reports
• What forms to use for the report
• How to file your workers' compensation claim

Telling the wrong person, such as a colleague, is the same as not making any report.

Report in Writing

The government requires you to make your injury report in writing. A written report is ideal since you can use it as proof later. Your employer or supervisor is also more likely to remember and act on a written report than a verbal one.

Include Relevant Details

The Division of Workers' Compensation and employers require specific details in your injury report. For example, the report should include:

• The date of the injury
• The time of the injury
• The location of the injury
• The nature of the injury
• The name of the injured person
• The address of the injured person

 Ensure you get everything right to reduce the risk of complications during claim processing.

Use the Relevant Form

The Division of Workers' Compensation provides a form for employees to report injuries. Using the form is the best way to report your injury since it captures all the major requirements. Your employer or supervisor should furnish you with the form when you report your injury. You can download the form from Missouri's Department of Labor & Industrial Relations website.

Keep a Copy of the Report

As previously mentioned, you may need to verify or prove the details of your injury and the report later on. For example, an employer might claim that your report was incomplete or lacked some details. Keep a copy of the report for such eventualities.

Note the Delivery or Mailing Date

You can mail the report to your employer or supervisor or hand it over in person. Keep a record of the delivery irrespective of the method you use. For example, you should note the mailing date if you decide to mail the report. Record the date, address, name, and title of the recipient if you hand-deliver the report.

Confirm the Claim Filing

Submitting an injury report is not the same as filing a workers' compensation claim. Don't confuse the two. Your employer should file the workers' compensation claim on your behalf. Give your employer a few days and confirm whether they have submitted your claim. You can also contact the Division of Workers' Compensation for confirmation.

Workers' compensation should be a straightforward claim, but that is not always the case. Preempt possible complications by consulting an experienced workers' compensation lawyer. At Spooner & Perkins, P.C., we have handled workers' compensation claims for over five decades. Contact us for a consultation to help you pursue your benefits.