Workers Compensation in Fargo, ND
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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Fargo, North Dakota?
Employers in Fargo, ND don’t report nonfatal occupational injuries to the U.S. Department of Labor, but that doesn’t mean they exist. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that people work in the trade, transportation, and utility industries more than any other type of employment in Cass County. Based on averages for the nation from the U.S. Department of Labor, 89.7 out of every 10,000 full-time employees reported injuries or illnesses.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Fargo, North Dakota?
Unfortunately, going through the process of applying for workers’ compensation begins with getting sick or injured on the job. The circumstances surrounding the incident that led to your problems are especially crucial. For example, the injury had to occur during your regular work duties. While an event that happens during your lunch break wouldn’t apply, getting into a car accident while running an errand for your boss would qualify for a claim.
Fargo locals can take comfort in knowing that any employer who hires an employee or sends one to work in the state of North Dakota, must carry a policy. However, you must wait seven days before benefits begin unless one of the parties involved contests your assertions. The state will calculate 66% of your salary for the last year and provide it as a weekly wage reimbursement. You will also benefit from medical bills, mileage, and out-of-pocket costs.
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 North Dakota are critical for filing a claim. Follow the following steps to preserve your rights and learn how workers comp works.
Get Medical Attention
If you suffer an injury or feel unwell, your first step should be to see a doctor without delay. Seeking prompt medical attention in is crucial not only for your health but also to avoid missing important deadlines that could impact your claim. Waiting too long can weaken your case and may prevent you from receiving the benefits you deserve.
Even if the injury seems minor, obtaining a detailed medical report is essential. This report should outline the extent of your injury and how it occurred. Proper documentation is a critical step in the workers’ compensation process, as your employer cannot file a claim with the insurance carrier without it.
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.
You have two years from the date of your job-related injury in Fargo to file for workers’ compensation. If your illness or injury happened recently, report the doctor’s findings to your employer within seven days of the event. All parties involved must file a First Report of Injury online with Workforce Safety & Insurance within that time. Weekly benefits for lost wages start at $376 per week, but your salary for the last year and your percentage of disability get taken into account. It’s possible to receive as much as 110% of your lost wages with medical coverage, mileage, and out-of-pocket costs included.
Timeline and Other Information
Your workers’ compensation claim begins after the submission of the First Report of Injury. Wage-loss benefits start after missing five or more consecutive days after an incident. Workforce Safety & Insurance will send an Injured Worker Status Letter on occasion to verify you should still receive payments. If it appears that you’re going to have a lifelong battle with the injury or illness, you may apply for permanent benefits. Approval provides ⅓ of your average weekly salary with a cap of $689 per week.
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 Fargo, North Dakota Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
While workers’ compensation claims may be straightforward for some cases in Fargo, North Dakota, 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 Fargo workers’ comp lawyer ensures that you have an advocate to fight for your rights as a victim.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer In Fargo, North Dakota
If you are hurt or contract an illness as a result of your job in Fargo, ND 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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