Workers Compensation in Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee workers’ compensation insurance and how the process works.
Workers Compensation Statistics in Tennessee?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the leading causes of work-related injury in Tennessee are overexertion, falls, and equipment injuries. The most commonly reported injuries are sprains, strains, and tears. The industries with the highest rates of workplace injuries are natural resources and mining, followed by educational and health services. In addition, the highest rates of fatalities are in the construction industry, with the primary cause being transportation injuries. Half of all reported workplace injuries in Tennessee result in missed work, work restriction, or job transfer.
How Does Workers Comp Work in Tennessee?
There is a standard practice to follow when going through the Tennessee 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.
All Tennessee employers with at least five employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance. Mining and construction employers require coverage regardless of number of employees. Your employer will provide you with a panel of three authorized physicians to choose from for your treatment. Once an authorized physician has determined the injury to be work-related, all recommended treatment is fully covered. There is no requirement to prove fault for the injury. Travel expenses can be covered if the treatment is more than 15 miles away.
The steps you take immediately following a workplace incident in Tennessee 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 receiving help from a Tennessee healthcare professional. Taking too long could not only jeopardize your health, but you run the risk of missing deadlines.
Even if you believe your injury is minor, get a proper medical report detailing the extent of the damage and how it occurred. This step is the top priority in the workers’ compensation claim process. Otherwise, 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 are injured on the job in Tennessee, you have 30 days to inform your employer about the injury. If your claim is denied, you have one year from the date of denial to challenge the finding.
Contents of the Report
The First Report of Injury will provide the workers’ compensation insurance carrier with the necessary details. They must know your physical injuries, the medical treatment you received, and the facilities that provided it.
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 witnesses.
Tennessee does not permit settlements until you are at MMI (maximum medical improvement). This means that your condition is not going to improve. Your doctor will make this determination and assign a percentage value to your disability. Note that, before any litigation is permitted, Tennessee requires a Benefits Review Conference to attempt a settlement. This conference must happen within 30 days of reaching MMI.
Why You Should Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Many people believe that the injury claims process is straightforward. While this may be the case in some instances, it may be more of a hassle.
For instance, your employer may question whether you were hurt on the clock or on your own time. The company may also start to question the extent of your injury.
Don’t question how workers comp works and risk losing your claim. Hire a Tennessee workers’ comp lawyer and ensure you have an advocate to fight for your rights.
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer in Tennessee
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.
We can connect you with a local attorney or one across Tennessee state lines.
Submit a request online or call us at (866) 345-6784 to find a workers’ compensation lawyer today!
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.
Do you still have burning questions about a different area of Tennessee law? Check out more of our content!