New injury
Hurt at work? Three things before anything else
What you do in the first days shapes the claim for months.
Tell your employer in writing, even if it feels small. See a doctor and say it happened at work. Then call me before you give the insurer a recorded statement or sign anything it sends.
I handle the filing, the fights over medical care and the hearings, and I stay on the claim until it's resolved.
Bring or send what you have
The date, place and how it happened
Anyone who saw it or heard about it
Every doctor's note and work-status slip
Letters from your employer or the insurer
What counts as a work injury
If your job caused it or made it worse, it can be a claim.
A fall, a strike, a crash
Ladders, loading docks, a pallet that shifted, a vehicle on the job. One bad moment.
Years of lifting and repeating
Backs, shoulders, wrists and knees that wore out on the work. It still counts, and it's easier to lose.
Illness from the job
Fumes, dust, noise and heat that made you sick over time, not on one day.
Someone else was involved
A driver, a contractor on site, the maker of a machine. Your comp claim stands either way, and you may have a second claim against them.
Questions from the first week
Do I have to tell my employer before I see a doctor?
Get care if you need it, and tell your employer as soon as you can, in writing. Deadlines to report are short and differ by state, so don't wait to ask me.
What if my employer says it wasn't work-related?
That's the insurer's call to make and a judge's to review. Many claims start with a no. What matters is what the records and witnesses show.
Can I be fired for filing?
Retaliation for a claim is against the law in most places. Keep every letter and message and tell me what changed after you reported.
Can I also sue someone?
Sometimes. If someone other than your employer caused the injury, there can be a separate claim. I'll tell you early whether that's worth looking at.
Before you sign it, call
Tell me what the insurer wants from you and I'll tell you whether to give it.