Workers Compensation in Cheyenne, WY
You aren’t alone if you wonder how workers’ compensation works.
Workers’ compensation is insurance that provides wage and medical benefits to people who have become ill or injured while at work. How far this coverage goes depends on Wyoming state law.
If your injury or illness is eligible for compensation, the insurance carrier should help ease the financial burden.
Learn some of the basic principles of Wyoming workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Cheyenne, Wyoming?
According to Wyoming Public Media, Wyoming is the most dangerous state for workers in the U.S. Mining and logging are terribly dangerous, but the most common work-related injuries in Cheyenne come from transportation and auto accidents. In addition, occupational stress injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome are common work-related injuries in Cheyenne. Work-related injuries can be damaging to your quality of life. If you have been injured in a work-related instance you are entitled to seek compensation.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Cheyenne, Wyoming?
There is a standard practice to follow when going through the Wyoming workers’ compensation process.
The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to the injury are crucial. The injury had to occur during your regular work duties.
In Cheyenne, every business with one or more employees must purchase workers’ compensation insurance. It must be purchased through the state fund, according to The Department of Insurance of Wyoming. Private insurance for workers’ comp is not allowed in Wyoming, so it must be purchased through a government entity. Medical benefits in Cheyenne entitle you to treatment, as well as the cost of rehab, and medical equipment. There could also possibly be a reimbursement for gas mileage for traveling to and from relative medical appointments.
For example, say your supervisor asked you to drop something off on your lunch break. While running this errand you then get in a car accident on your way to the destination. Any resulting injury is eligible for workers’ compensation. However, if you are on your lunch break, performing no such task when you get in an accident, it does not qualify for a claim.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Wyoming are critical for filing a 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 in seeking help from a healthcare professional. Delaying treatment could not only harm your health but also risk missing important deadlines.
Even if you believe your injury is minor, it’s crucial to get a proper medical report that details the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This step is essential in the workers’ compensation claim process. Without it, your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier.
You may have regular checkups and testing for weeks or months before a doctor finally connects your illness with your job. Your medical records will become the foundation from which the workers’ comp carrier will launch its investigation.
Generally, your doctor determines if the illness happened because of your work conditions or became 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.
If you have been injured or contracted an occupational illness in Cheyenne you can seek medical and disability benefits. As stated by The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, you should report an injury or illness as soon as possible. Seek medical treatment at the first available opportunity, and if possible, obtain a copy of your medical records to file with your employer. It is also wise to keep a copy for yourself. If any disputes arise with your claim, your prompt action and copies of records can help settle them. Delayed action may only serve to create other issues.
Timeline and Other Information
In Cheyenne, after your report has been received, the Workers’ Compensation Division has 15 days to respond. You will receive an initial review letter, which may ask for medical records and pertinent documents. The Division will offer their Final Determination Letter within 60 days of receiving your first filing. If any benefits are denied, you have a right to a hearing if you disagree.
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. In the meantime, the workers’ comp insurer may begin paying medical benefits while the investigation into your claim continues.
Why You Should Hire a Cheyenne, Wyoming Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in Cheyenne, Wyoming in others, it may be more difficult. For example, your employer may decide to question whether you were hurt on the clock or on your own time. It’s also common for a company to question the full extent of your injury. Hiring a Cheyenne workers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Cheyenne, Wyoming
If you are hurt or contract an illness as a result of your job in Cheyenne, Wyoming you need to find the right people to help. Since the workers’ compensation claims process can have pitfalls, you should consider getting a local attorney who knows how to avoid them.
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.
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