Filing Workers Compensation Claims in Murfreesboro
When a worker is injured or develops an illness on the job, that injury or malady may make it impossible for the worker to continue performing that job. The disability might be temporary or last a lifetime. Either way, the financial fallout is twofold: a loss of wage income at a time of mounting medical bills.
To receive compensation for lost wages and medical expenses, the worker is entitled to file a claim for a workers comp claim in Murfreesboro. The idea behind workers compensation claims in Murfreesboro is that the insurance compensates injured workers for lost wages and medical disabilities when they are hurt on the job. In exchange for this guaranteed coverage, workers agree they will not sue their employers.
Filing a Murfreesboro workers compensation claim
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which administers the workers comp program for Tennessee, mandates that all Tennessee employers with five or more workers must carry workers comp coverage.
The laws and regulations associated with workers comp claims are very complicated and confusing. And there are many deadlines and requirements that need to be met or Murfreesboro worker comp claims could be denied. So it is advisable to obtain the help of a qualified, caring lawyer, such as the attorneys at Craft & Sheppard, PLC.
If your claim is approved, benefits begin relatively soon thereafter. The weekly compensation amount is calculated using two-thirds of the average gross weekly wages over the 52-week period prior to the injury.
Meeting requirements for a Murfreesboro worker compensation claim
Here are some of the issues and requirements to consider when filing for Murfreesboro worker comp claims:
- Respect state imposed deadlines and procedures for filing the initial claim
- Provide sufficient documentation proving the injury occurred at work
- Visit primary care physicians and specialists specified by the insurance carrier that insures your employer
- Decide whether to sue a third party whose negligence also contributed to the accident
- Decide whether to take a lump sum settlement and forego any future claim to benefits for this injury
Contact us for help filing Murfreesboro worker compensation claims
When a worker is seriously injured or ill, it is a difficult time to navigate this process alone. Having a lawyer on your side from the start is especially beneficial down the road if the initial claim is denied and an appeal or litigation becomes necessary.
If you or someone you know needs the help of an attorney to file a workers comp claim in Murfreesboro, please call Craft & Sheppard, PLC toll-free at 1-888-826-1470 or contact us online.
