After a worker has been injured in the workplace, it is important for them to know what to do and where they can turn. Workers’ compensation benefits are a valuable resource that injured workers should know how to obtain when they find themselves facing time away from work as they recover from an injury suffered on the job.
Injured workers have both rights and responsibilities as part of the workers’ compensation process and applying for benefits. To begin with, it is important for injured workers to report any injury they have suffered on the job as soon as possible and to fill out an accident report. Injured workers should also be aware that in Mississippi they can select the health care provider they wish to see for the treatment and care of their injuries. Injured workers can also see the doctor provided by their employer and its insurer, if they prefer to do so. The decision is up to the injured worker and depends on their comfort level.
Workers who have been injured on the job should seek the medical care and treatment they need but also remember to report their injury so that they ensure they are preserving any claim for workers’ compensation benefits and following the proper process. Doing so can help them obtain the medical and wage loss benefits they need to help them through the recovery process.
Additionally, injured workers and their families may benefit from trained guidance through the process to ensure they maximize the benefits available to them. Injured workers deserve to be familiar with the resources that can help them with the fallout of being injured on the job that impacts both them and their families.