When successfully sought out, workers’ compensation can provide a significant amount of financial relief to injured Connecticut workers. But the process of seeking out these benefits isn’t always easy, and oftentimes employers, insurance companies and the state try to find ways to deny claims. With this in mind, injured workers should inform themselves about the workers’ compensation system and how they can utilize it to their advantage.
One often overlooked aspect of workers’ compensation is the duty to inform one’s employer. Under Connecticut law, an individual who is injured on the job must notify his or her employer, or a representative of the employer, immediately. Failure to do so could result in a reduced amount of workers’ compensation being awarded. In the end, the determination is left in the hands of a workers’ compensation commissioner, but injured individuals should be sure to immediately notify their employers of any harm that comes to them while on the job.
After an injured worker’s injury notification has been submitted to the Workers’ Compensation Commission, then that worker should receive additional paperwork within five business days. Timing is critical in workers’ compensation matters, so any delay caused by an employer or the state should be duly noted so that it doesn’t negatively impact one’s claim.
These matters may seem relatively minor, but can drastically affect the outcome of a claim. Also, this is just one of many issues that can arise in the workers’ compensation context. To learn more about the process and how to navigate it as competently as possible, injured employees should think about contacting an attorney of their choosing.
Source: State of Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission, “Sec. 31-294b,” accessed on June 20, 2016
