Umialik Lights Newsletter

Winter 2021

The Value of Reporting Claims Promptly

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Reporting a Worker’s Compensation claim quickly and as close to the time of the incident as possible is incredibly important, and not doing so can result in unintended consequences. For example, there is a direct relationship between the ultimate payout of the average Workers’ Compensation claim and the time in which the claim is reported to the insurance carrier. In fact, studies have shown that as the lag time increases, so do the costs of a claim. (“Lag time” is the time, measured in days, from when an accident occurs until the time it is received by the insurance carrier.)

There are many benefits to reporting your claim promptly, including:

The injured worker can receive the proper medical care they need in a timely manner. Faster medical care often translates into quicker return to work as well as a more positive claim experience for the injured worker who may be dealing with their first Workers’ Compensation claim.
The claim handler can proactively manage the claim by speaking to the injured worker early to “lock in” the facts of the loss as well as speaking to any witnesses.
Scene preservation and evidence retention, if needed, are always best done at the very beginning of a claim—before people move on, their memory fades, or the accident scene itself changes. This is especially vital if we’re looking at recovering from a third party who may have been responsible for the injuries sustained by the injured worker, even if there might be only partial responsibility.

We strongly encourage everyone to report all claims promptly, even if you don’t have all the information just yet. Creating a culture and expectation that all claims should be reported within five days or less will contribute to more effective claim management, less attorney involvement, and lower costs overall.

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