After reporting your injury you need to be aware of the steps you need to take. Ask your employer for a claim form, fill it out and turn it in. Your employer must give or mail you a Workers’ Compensation Claim Form (DWC 1) within one working day after you report your injury or illness. Please use this form to request workers’ compensation benefits. Fill out and sign the “employee” portion of the form. Be sure to describe your injury in detail. Include all the body parts that have been injured. Give the form to your employer. This is called “filing” the claim form. Do this as soon as possible to avoid possible problems with your claim. Get good medical care. You should be treated by a doctor who understands your type of injury or illness.

Your doctor should:

• Prescribe care for your job injury or illness and manage your overall care
• Determine when you can return to work
• Identify the types of work you can do safely while recovering
• Refer you to specialists if needed
• Write medical reports that will help determine the benefits you receive.
• Inform the doctor about your injuries and the events at work that caused them.

Your employer must fill out and sign the “employer” portion of the form and give the completed form to a claim’s administrator. This person handles workers’ compensation claims for your employer. Your employer must give or mail you a copy of the completed form within one working day after you filed it. Keep this copy.

The claims administrator has to decide within a reasonable time whether to accept or deny your claim.