Workers Compensation in Arkansas

You aren’t alone if you wonder how workers comp works. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work.

The extent of workers’ comp coverage an employer is required to carry is governed by Arkansas state law. Thus, in trying to figure out how workers comp works, it helps to understand the laws on the books in the state where the business operates. If the injury or illness a worker sustains is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden the illness or injury created on the worker. Learn some of the basic principles of Arkansas workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.

Workers Compensation Statistics in Arkansas?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Arkansas’s non-fatal workplace illness and injury rates are lower than the national average. As well, the occupations with the highest rate of fatal workplace injuries in Alaska are transportation & warehousing, and construction. According to the Workplace Safety Index, the top two causes of nonfatal workplace injuries are overexertion and falls, costing $25 billion nationally.

How Does Workers Comp Work in Arkansas?

There is a standard practice to follow when going through the Arkansas workers’ compensation process. Unfortunately, it begins with you getting sick or injured on the job. The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to the injury are especially crucial. The injury had to occur during your regular work duties. It could also occur while you are performing a special task at the request of your boss. 

According to the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission, any business with three or more employees is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Farm laborers, real estate agents, domestic workers, and nonprofit employees are not required to have coverage. Generally, the employer is responsible for benefits for two years from the date of injury, but if you are permanently disabled, you are entitled to lifetime benefits. Mental injuries are only covered if they are caused by a physical injury, and benefits are limited to 26 weeks.

The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Arkansas are critical for purposes of filing a compensation claim. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.

Get Medical Attention

After you get injured or feel ill, the first step is to see a doctor. Don’t delay receiving help from an Arkansas healthcare professional. This could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing time-sensitive deadlines in the workers’ compensation process.

Even if you believe that your injury is minor, get a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This is the first step in the workers’ compensation claim process. Absent a medical report, your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier.

When dealing with a job-related illness, the symptoms and diagnosis may not happen right away. You may find yourself attending regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally associates your illness with your job. All of your medical records will become the foundation from which the workers’ comp carrier will launch its investigation. Your doctor may make the determination that the illness is the result of your work conditions or aggravated by them. Once they do, see your human resources representative to file a workers’ compensation claim.

File a First Report of Injury

Once you have a medical diagnosis relating your illness or injury to your job, you must file a claim with your employer. This is the next important phase of how Arkansas workers comp works.

After reporting your injury, your employer sends a First Report of Injury or Illness to its workers’ compensation carrier. Arkansas Workers’ Compensation stipulates that you must go to a doctor chosen by your employer. If your doctor does not meet your satisfaction, you may write to the Commission to request a Change of Physician. The statute of limitations on a worker’s compensation suit is two years from the date of injury.

The first report of an on-the-job injury or illness will provide the workers’ compensation insurance carrier with the details of the events leading up to the injury. In this report, you will provide your physical injuries, the medical treatment you received, and the facilities that provided it. It’s always a good idea to submit a copy of the doctor’s report with the report of injury.

Your employer should furnish you with information about the claims process. The adjuster or insurance carrier representative may want to speak to you at some point about the incident and any possible witnesses to the event. 

If you must miss work, you can receive indemnity benefits. The injured employee receives 66 ⅔ of their wage, and these payments are tax-free. The Arkansas Workers Compensation Commission stipulates there is a 7-day waiting period, and compensation begins on the 8th day of disability. The first 7 days will be retroactively paid if you are disabled for more than 14 days.

Why You Should Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Many people assume that the workers’ compensation process in is straightforward. While that may be true in some cases, it can quickly become complicated depending on the circumstances.

For example, your employer might dispute whether your injury occurred on the job or question the severity of your condition. Pay disputes or disagreements over long-term care recommended by your doctor may also arise. Don’t risk navigating these challenges alone. Hiring an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer ensures you have an advocate to protect your rights and help you secure the benefits you deserve.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Arkansas

Your health and well-being need to come first. If you are hurt while working or find out an illness you are suffering is the result of your job, you will want to seek compensation. Since the workers’ compensation claims process may be tricky. You should consider getting a local attorney well-versed in how to deal with it. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Arkansas state lines. They can guide you while you continue to learn how workers comp works.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

About the Author

Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.

With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations. Contact Aaron at [email protected] for article suggestions, collaborations, or inquiries.

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