Work-related injuries can and often are life-changing events. Depending on the extent of the injury, you might be left with a long-term condition that will affect your quality of life. Getting compensation for such conditions is the only way to ensure your well-being in the long term. The process of filing a claim for a work-related condition can be complicated, which is why we’ve decided to put together this short guide. Hopefully, by the time we’re done here, you’ll have a solid grasp of how the whole process works.
What to Do In Case of Work Injury?
Work injuries happen, especially in industries where working with tools and machinery, is a daily occurrence. There’s a significant number of Australians who file a worker compensation claim every year. In the unfortunate case you’ve experienced a work-related accident, the very first you should do is assess the extent of your injury. If it’s a life-threatening situation, seek medical help immediately or call emergency services.
Report the Injury Right Away
From a worker compensation claim point of view, you need to report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. Naturally, your well-being comes first, so don’t worry about finding your superiors if you’re in a life-threatening condition. The injury report sets in motion a whole set of events, including the procedure your employer has in place. Once the injury has been reported and acknowledged by the employer, they will ask for medical documentation. Legal experts over at Wyatts Compensation Lawyers say that gathering documentation is a critical part of making a claim. Gathering all of the paperwork is essential to document the extent of the damages suffered properly.
What type of Documentation Should you Gather?
Per the Safety, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act of 1988, you’ll need to get a medical certificate issued by a qualified medical practitioner. This can be your own doctor, a general practitioner, or a specialist. The key thing to remember is that a lack of a complete medical certificate can bring your claim to a grinding halt. A complete medical certificate needs to include several key pieces of information.
Diagnosis
The very first item on the list is a proper diagnosis. The qualified medical practitioner responsible for treating your injuries needs to file an accurate diagnosis of your condition, stating the complete extent of your injuries.
Cause and Date of the Injury
Once the diagnosis has been established, the next item in the medical certificate should be the cause of the injury. Your doctor should document what happened exactly to cause the injury and when it happened. This piece of information is important for determining the validity of the claim.
Assessment of Your Ability to Work
The next item in the medical certificate is the assessment of your ability to go back to work. Your doctor should determine whether you’re fit to go back to work or whether you require extended time off to recover from your injuries. In the case of the latter, you’ll need to be compensated for your time off.
Recommended Course of Treatment
The last important bit of information that needs to be included in the medical certificate is the recommended course of treatment for your reported injuries. At this point, you can start thinking about the costs. In any case, your and your employer’s insurance plays a role.
Submitting the Claim
Once you have all of the paperwork ready, it’s time to submit the workers’ compensation claim. This part of the procedure will depend on who your employer is. In case your employer is the Australian Government, any of its agencies, or statutory authority, you can submit the claim yourself using the online form found on the Comcare website. On the other hand, if you’re employed with a company that is on the list of self-insured licensees, you need to talk to your manager and follow the procedures put in place by the management of your company.
How Long does it take for a claim to be processed?
The time necessary to process a claim will depend on several factors. The thing to remember is to stock up on patience. Depending on who is handling your claim, whether it’s Comcare or an independent insurance carrier, you might have a hard time getting adequate compensation.
In the unfortunate case that you run into such problems, it might be a good move to seek professional help. There are law firms who specialize in workers’ compensation claims and have the necessary experience to ensure you get what you’re entitled to from your insurance. Not only that but using such a service could sometimes expedite the process and bring closure much sooner.
