1. Workers’ Compensation 101 For Employers: WHAT TO DO WHEN AN EMPLOYEE REPORTS A CLAIM

2. Educate Employees on Reporting Injuries
Give immediate notice regardless of how minor they believe the injury to be
Report the injury to the proper supervisor
Be aware that the employer will provide medical attention if needed upon the reporting of an injury
Immediately report the claim to insurance carrier

3. Investigate the Facts of the Accident
Investigate immediately regardless of how minor the injury appears
Get a statement from the employee asking what happened, how it happened, who witnessed the accident, what injuries he/she sustained
Get statements from all witnesses
Keep a separate Workers’ Compensation file

4. Offer a Proper Panel of Physicians to the Employee
Have a written panel of physicians on file to hand to the employee for choosing a treating physician
Do not rely on mere posting of a panel
Require the employee to choose from the panel and document that choice on the face of the panel list
Make sure the panel of physicians has a minimum of three facilities/physicians not in the same group
The panel can have as many providers as you want
Timing with regard to the offer of the panel is everything

5. Follow the Claim Communicate with the adjuster
Provide all pertinent information to the adjuster to help him/her further investigate and handle the claim
Cooperate fully with defense counsel if case goes to litigation