How do I make a workers compensation claim? 25 Answers as of October 24, 2011

The best way to do this is to hire a Workers Compensation attorney to help you out.

It would be very difficult to answer this question. Essentially, I'd have to advise you about all of workers compensation law. So, your best bet is to contact an attorney who specializes in workers compensation cases.

You can easily start your claim process on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries website.

Contact the Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) of the Texas Department of Insurance and obtain a DWC Form-41, Notice of Injury and Claim for Compensation, fill out the form, and file it with the DWC at the address shown on the form.

It is definitely in your best interest to retain the services of a Workers' Compensation attorney to represent you. There are many potential pitfalls for someone attempting to navigate the system alone.

You can make a claim yourself by alerting your employer and asking for the work comp forms to fill out. If you are getting the run around from your employer you can get the necessary forms from the website for the Division of Workers Compensation (part of the Missouri Dept of Labor and Industrial Relations). However, if you believe this will be a disputed claim, it is best to hire an attorney.

Your employer is required by law to have worker's compensation poster that names the insurance company and provides details on making a claim. It is usually posted in a break room. You should find the poster and contact the insurance company. If you cannot find the sign and the employer isn't helping you then you should contact an attorney who handles those type of cases.

File a first report of injury with your company or the state and get a lawyer.

You must complete a form called an Application for Adjustment of Claim and file it with The Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. If this is a contested claim, I strongly advise that you hire an experienced attorney to represent you. These matters are taken on contingency so you pay nothing for the representation until your case is tried or settled. In the meantime, your attorney can work to make sure you receive all benefits you are entitled to receive under the Act.

The official way is to fill out a form 50 which is available on the Workers Compensation Commission Website, serve a copy on the employer and file the original with the Workers Compensation Commission with proof of service. However, if you simply report the accident and injury to the employer orally, and ask for medical treatment, that is supposed to get the ball rolling. The employer should then report the accident to the Workers Compensation Commission and start providing medical benefits, or let you know that they are denying the claim, in which case you would be better off with an attorney than proceeding without representation.

Filing a claim is easy- print the form online from the Missouri Department of Labor. Knowing how to pursue your claim, what it is worth and how to keep the process moving forward is a much different question. If you don't have a lawyer, all the judge will have in evidence is the insurance company's rating, which will be much lower than the going "rate" for your injury. Workers' compensation underpays large injuries and overpays small ones. Unless you have a small case, the smart thing to do is to hire a professional to be in your corner.

Hopefully, you have already reported your on the job injury to the appropriate personnel at work. A form 110 needs to be filed with the industrial accident board. My best suggestion is contact an experienced personal injury attorney in your area for help with this. An insurance company often will take advantage of those that are unrepresented.

It can be a difficult process if you are unfamiliar with the rules.