Suggestions for Working with an Interpreter During a Workers Comp Issue

How you can find a good interpreter for workers comp claims.

Due to the changing demographics in the American workforce, it’s very likely that you have employees who do not speak fluent English on your payroll.   Should one of these employees injure themselves while at work, you will need to secure a translator’s service to assist you with the workers compensation insurance process.  But how can ensure that important details aren’t being lost in translation?  Here’s how you can tell that an interpreter is good.

  • Court Certified

Because workers compensation insurance claims involve legal matters, it’s important to use a court certified interpreter to communicate with your employee.  Your interpreter should be present during recorded statements, witness interviews, depositions, independent medical examinations, and so on.

  • Accurate Interpretation

In a workers compensation insurance claim, accuracy is everything.  This is why it’s so important to use an interpreter who can translate word for word.  While it can be difficult to asses the accuracy of an interpreter, you can look out for tell-tale signs that the interpreter is taking too much creative liberty.  For instance, if a long explanation becomes a short one-word response, then this should raise a red flag.  If you are ever in doubt, hire a new interpreter.  While this will mean investing more time and effort into the claim, working with an interpreter that you can trust will save you considerable trouble down the line.

  • No Side Conversations

Finally, it is important that the interpreter and your employee do not get involved in side conversations.  These off conversations might compromise the credibility of the worker’s statement.  Oftentimes, a translator may need to elaborate on a legal definition to clear things up for your employee.  If this does occur, then the translator needs to be transparent and should inform you of everything that they have said to your employee.

These are some of the signs that the interpreter you are working with is good.  Do you have other questions regarding your workers compensation insurance or the claims process?  If so, then contact the experts at PMC Insurance Group.  We are ready to assist you with all your commercial coverage needs today.

By PMC Insurance Group

Since 1996, PMC Insurance Group has worked to help independent agents grow their client base by offering workers' compensation solutions for a wide array of businesses. As one of the most distinguished workers' compensation wholesalers in the country, we have the tools and resources to help you create coverage programs for both small businesses and large accounts.