What You Need to Know About Tennessee Work Injuries

An on-the-job injury can result in extensive medical treatment and time away from work.  If you have been injured on the job, whether it was on a construction site or in an office, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.   Tennessee Workers’ Compensation law allows injured workers to collect benefits during their recovery.

In Tennessee, employers who have five or more full or part time workers are required to carry workers’ compensation coverage.  Employers in construction and mining are all required to carry this type of insurance.

There are steps in applying for workers’ compensation benefits.  The first thing you must do following a work-related accident or injury is to notify your employer.  It is best to notify your employer in writing and it must be done within 30 days of the date of your injury or the date that a physician first informed you that your injury was work-related.

After being notified of your injury, your employer has to contact the insurance company within two working days.  The insurance company then has 15 days to accept or deny your claim.  You will receive a notification from the insurer regarding the decision and if you disagree with the outcome, you are entitled to a second opinion, but it is usually at your own expense.

If your workers’ comp claim is accepted, you should start receiving payments within 15 days.  Payments equal 66 2/3 percent of your average weekly wages for the past 52 weeks.

Contact the Tennessee workers’ compensation lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates if you have been injured on the job at (800) 337-HURT (4878) or (615) 356-2000.  We will make sure that you are treated fairly by your employer and the insurance company.

The article, “What You Should Do Following a Work Injury in Tennessee,” has more information on this topic.