Author, Jim Malone, Workers’ Compensation Claims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

There are many things the employer is required to do after a work related injury occurs. There are also additional things an employer can and should do after an employee is injured, though not required by any regulatory agency, like offering modified work.

Author, Jim Malone, Workers’ Compensation Claims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As the new normal continues evolving through this pandemic, advocates are needed across all industries and sectors. Businesses and their employees exposed to the risk of workers’ compensation injuries and illnesses need the highest level of advocacy now, more than ever.

Author, Jim Malone, Workers’ Compensation Claims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Timely reporting of an employee’s work-related serious injury, illness or death can pose a challenge to the employer. As of January 1, 2020, these incidents (including any hospitalizations, unless the injured worker is admitted for medical observation or diagnostic testing) must be reported immediately to Cal/OSHA. Immediately means as soon as practically possible but not longer than 8 hours after the employer knows or, with diligent inquiry, would have known of the serious injury, illness or death.

Author, Jim Malone, Workers’ Compensation Claims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

A work-related injury is a traumatic event for your employee and their family. Even though your employees are trained and educated to immediately report work injuries, it is sometimes difficult for them to do so.

Author, Jim Malone, Workers’ Compensation Claims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Fraud can happen in every industry, including workers’ compensation. Within workers’ compensation claims, fraud is a term that can be overused by employers who may not agree with a claim, or a condition that has been considered work-related/work-aggravated. Many times, instead of fraud, there is simply a difference of opinion as to whether a specific work incident caused an injury. 

Author, Daniel Frazee, Executive Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Author, Jim Malone, Workers’ Compensation Claims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Subrogation crosses into many areas of the insurance world including workers compensation, general liability, property, and auto. As an employer, developing an effective Incident Investigation Plan is a key first step to managing the potential impacts of subrogation on your organization. 

Author, Jim Malone, Workers’ Compensation Claims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

A work related injury can be a very traumatic event for the injured worker, but also for their co-workers, employer, family and friends. Some injuries occur from a specific event when everybody knows the injury occurred. Other times, incidents occur during the work day, or repeatedly over time, where the employee needs to report these incidents, accidents or developing symptoms to his supervisor, manager, or human resource manager according to company protocol. 

Author, Jim Malone, Workers’ CompensationClaims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Workers’ Compensation injuries occur every day. The majority of these injuries are minor incidents which require no medical treatment or loss of time from work. For others, the injury is reported to the insurance carrier, the injury is addressed, forms are provided, and the recovery from the injury is monitored until the employee is released back to work and a discharge from care is provided.

Author, Jim Malone, Claims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

When a work-related accident occurs, as a business owner or manager, it is our nature to want to analyze the situation in order to learn how to avoid it in the future. However, the reporting of the incident is equally as important. With the recent requirement to report first aid claims, timely reporting for all claims is recognized as being critical for a number of reasons.