Avoid some of these common workers compensation issues.
As a business owner, you are in charge of securing the right workers compensation insurance to protect your staff and fulfill your state’s coverage minimums. Additionally, it is your responsibility to manage workers comp claims in a timely, transparent, and fair manner. While this sounds simple enough, many business owners make crucial mistakes when it comes to workers compensation insurance claims. Here are some of the major pitfalls that you need to avoid when dealing with an injured employee at your place of business.
Failing to Document the Incident
At your business, you should have a policy to document every injury that occurs on the job, no matter how seemingly minor it is. For instance, if an employee comes to you complaining of soreness in their wrist, it’s important that you treat this issue seriously rather than writing it off. The benefits of documenting every incident that occurs at your business are multifaceted. On one hand, you can identify which workplace processes or tasks cause the most injuries and adjust your safety protocols accordingly. Additionally, this documentation will ensure that you have the necessary paperwork should an injured employee express their wish to file a workers comp claim.
Failing to Secure Witness Statements
If an employee claims that they have been injured on the job, it’s vital that you secure statements from those that have witnessed the incident. All witnesses of an accident should fill out a statement explaining what they saw and what they think happened. This will help to corroborate the injured employee’s story or will reveal inaccuracies in their account. If the witness statements back the employee’ story, then you can proceed with the claims process. If the statements do not match what the injured employee has told you, then this should prompt you to investigate the claim more closely for signs of fraud.
Failing to Work with Your Claims Adjuster
If your insurance provider sends a claims adjuster to investigate your claim, you should be transparent and helpful at all times. This means offering them your documentation of the incident, the injured employee’s statement, the witness statements, and whatever else the adjuster might need. You should also work with the adjuster to schedule meetings with the injured employee and other witnesses if they request it. By working with your adjuster, you can ensure that the claim is thoroughly investigated and that the compensation process proceeds smoothly.
These are some of the common workers comp mistakes that you should avoid. Do you have additional concerns regarding your business’s workers compensation insurance? If so, then contact the experts at PMC Insurance Group. Our team of professionals is ready to assist you with all your commercial coverage needs today.
