If you suffer an injury at work, you are responsible for reporting it to your employer so that they can start the workers’ compensation process. In most cases, this is a fairly simple process that occurs without issue.
However, if your employer refuses to take your claim report or refuses to contact the insurer, you may need to take additional steps.
The law requires claim acceptance
Florida law requires your employer to take your injury report. Your employer has 14 days to report it to the state. The employer must report it to the insurer within seven days. It is a violation to not take the report or to fail to meet the deadlines. If your employer refuses to take your injury report or does not give the report to the insurer, it could face a fine of up to $500.
Your responsibilities for reporting
You must report your injury to your employer within 30 days. If your employer fails to report it to the insurer, you have the right to do that as well. You can directly contact the employer’s workers’ compensation insurer and make a report. Make sure to let the insurer know you are making the report because your employer failed to do so.
You will know if your employer makes the proper reports to the insurer because you will receive a notice within three days of the insurer getting the information that informs you about your rights. If you do not get this notice, contact your employer and the insurer, if necessary. Any delays could impact your ability to make a claim, so be proactive and make sure all reports occur on time.