When Should I Report an Employee’s on the Job Injury?

Submitted by:   Bernie Reinert

As soon as it happens!  Okay, I realize that this may not always be possible, but the sooner a claim gets filed, the better.  Many Business  owners are hesitant to report an on the job injury for fear that their insurance costs will increase, or that the policy will be cancelled because of frequent claims.  The truth is that if an injury is promptly reported the injured employee can receive treatment quickly and avoid the injury turning more severe.   The employer can rest assured that they have complied with the insurance contract’s timely reporting requirement, not to mention getting the injured employee healthy and back to work as quickly as possible to maintain their business’s productivity and income.

Most of the claims that are taken from our customers are minor injuries; a restaurant worker cutting his finger, a carpenter falling while unloading his truck, or an office worker slipping in the parking lot.  When these seemingly small injuries are reported to the Workers Compensation Insurance  carrier quickly, the employee receives treatment right away greatly reducing the likelihood of the injury worsening.  If that carpenter reports his fall right away and sees a doctor, he may be able to get treatment and restrict his work duties until the injury heals, but if he ignores it he may aggravate the injury turning it into a larger issue than it would have been to begin with.  The missed time from work will impact both employer and employee financially and it will cost the insurance company more money in the long run for rehabilitation services.  As a result, the dollar amount of the claim goes up and so does your insurance premium.  So remember to always report workplace injuries as soon as possible to keep your costs down.