Most Arkansas employers must hold workers’ compensation insurance. It is no-fault insurance that covers your costs if you get injured or ill due to your work.
Despite this, some employers can be reluctant to help your claim, fearing it will push their insurance premiums up. The insurance companies themselves can also work against you, as every dollar they pay out is a dollar less of profit.
Here are some of the things that could harm your chance to claim:
Your line manager does not record the incident
To claim, you need to report it to your company, preferably as soon as possible and with as much detail as possible. If you do not see the manager you tell getting out a form and writing things down, the company may claim you never told them.
They do not send you to see a doctor
You cannot file a claim without medical proof of your injury or illness. You need to see a doctor straight away. Otherwise, it becomes harder to pinpoint your injury to the workplace. Also, doctors can sometimes spot things that you may not and that you will need to ensure you seek compensation for
They do not file the claim
Your line manager filled out the report, and you got a written diagnosis from the doctor, but you can still see the paperwork sitting on your boss’s desk. While the statute of limitations for filing is two years, the longer it takes, the longer you will need to wait for your benefits.
To reduce the chance of these or other issues, consider outside help to understand your workers’ compensation rights and file your claim.