You must timely report a work-related injury!

If you are injured while working in Tennessee, you have a legal obligation to report the occurrence.  A failure to timely notify your employer could result in a delay or complete denial of workers' compensation benefits. According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, an injured employee should immediately report an injury in writing to their employer.  If circumstances of an injury prevent immediate reporting, an employee must report the injury no later than (30) days after the injury.

For gradually occurring injuries (i.e. carpal tunnel), the injury must be reported within (30) days of when the employee either (1) knows or reasonably should know that he or he/she has suffered a work-related injury, or (2) is rendered unable to continue to perform his or her normal work activities as a result of a work-related injury and the employee knows or reasonably should know that the injury was caused by work-related activities.

If an employee contracts a disease that is work related, he/she must give notice to the employer within 30 days of the date on which the the disease becomes known to the employee or could have been discovered by the employee in the exercise of reasonable care and diligence. 

If you have questions about your claim, the article entitled Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Benefits will help you understand your rights.  If you have been injured and are considering filing a workers’ comp claim, contact Phillip Miller & Associates at (800) 337-HURT (4878) or (615) 356-2000 for legal advice.

Labels: carpal tunnel injured on the job on-the-job injury Tennessee workers' compensation workers' comp claim workers' compensation workers' compensation benefits workers' compensation law