/ BLOG

Workers’ Comp 101: What to Do When Your Employee is Injured at Work

Jul 3, 2023 · 5 minutes to read

When one of your employees is injured at work, it’s important to act fast. An immediate response may save lives or help minimize the damage. It can also smooth the follow up process and save your business money.

Create a safe workplace

How you respond to injuries in the workplace is important, but it’s better to avoid them if you can. Establishing a safe work environment and culture of safety is the best way to do this.

Preventing workplace injuries starts with you, the business owner. If you take on-the-job safety seriously, it encourages your employees to take it seriously as well. Workplace safety training, including refresher courses given throughout the year, helps employees know what they can do to avoid injury and how to respond when one occurs.

It’s also important to give your employees the tools they need to prevent and respond to workplace injuries. This starts with the basic safety equipment or clothing they need to safely do their job. A fully stocked first aid kit is essential for treating minor injuries, and a detailed emergency response plan can help in more urgent situations.

Finally, do an audit of your workplace to ensure you are following all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines for workplace safety.

How to respond to employee injuries

No matter how safe your workplace may be, injuries can still happen. As a business owner, you will need to take certain steps to minimize its impact on your business.

1. Respond immediately after an injury

When an employee is injured, you or a designated safety officer should take the lead in the initial response.

  • Get people to safety. Injured workers should be moved away from dangerous areas, and others should be kept clear of the danger.
  • Assess the situation. Determine how the employee was injured and how severe the injury is. This can help ensure others do not get hurt and provide important information for emergency responders or your insurer.
  • Assist the injured. First aid may be appropriate for minor scraps, cuts, and burns. However, more serious injuries should be assessed and treated by emergency or medical professionals. It may seem overcautious to call 911, but the employee might be unaware of the extent of their injury. When in doubt, emergency services can provide a professional assessment and help prevent further injury.

2. Gather information and save evidence

Employee safety and care is your top priority after an injury. However, it’s also important to gather details about what happened while everything is still fresh in your mind.

  • Write down the relevant details of the incident: What happened, who was involved, how you responded, etc.
  • Gather witness testimony from anyone else who was there
  • Keep evidence of the injury, including photos of the scene or equipment that was involved.

Even if an injury seems minor or the employee says they are fine, it’s still important to gather evidence. The employee may seek medical treatment at a later time or decide to file a workers’ comp claim.

3. File a workers’ comp claim

If a workers’ compensation claim is filed, it should be done as soon as possible. Some states even have time limits for when you must file a claim by law. For example, employers in Florida have 7 days to file a workers’ comp claim once they are made aware of a workplace injury.

Be sure to provide your insurer or agent with relevant documents and evidence when you submit the claim and send requested information as soon as possible. This will help speed up the process, so your employee can get the financial support they need with little delay.

4. Keep lines of communication open

Maintaining communication is in your best interest as a business owner. Resolving a workplace injury quickly gets your employee the help they need to get back to work. It could also save you the hassle and expense of a workplace injury lawsuit.

As the business owner, you should assist those involved with the injury, recovery process and claim in any way you can. This includes the injured employee, their doctor, and your Workers’ Compensation insurance provider.

Consider creating a document to give to all new employees that outlines the workers’ comp process and your company’s return-to-work policy. This is a good way to build trust between you and your staff and lower future claims costs.

5. Know how to handle a lawsuit

If a workplace injury becomes a workers’ comp lawsuit, it’s still important to keep lines of communication open. The longer it takes to resolve a lawsuit, the more expensive it will likely be.

Provide relevant information and documentation to the attorneys and your insurance provider in a timely fashion. Many Workers’ Compensation policies will help you pay legal fees associated with workplace injury lawsuits. It can also cover the cost of any settlement or judgement you are ordered to pay.

Workers’ Comp insurance for your small business

Responding to workplace injuries quickly and efficiently can help small business owners get their employees safely back to work. The right Workers’ Compensation insurance can help make this process even easier. Visit BizInsure to find the policy that’s right for your small business.

Let's find

The coverage you need for your business

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance

Get a quote

General Liability Insurance

General Liability Insurance

Get a quote

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Get a quote

Workers Compensation Insurance

Workers Compensation Insurance

Get a quote

Let's find

The coverage you need for your business

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance

Get a quote

General Liability Insurance

General Liability Insurance

Get a quote

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Get a quote

Workers Compensation Insurance

Workers Compensation Insurance

Get a quote

Very easy, simple to use and straight forward
The process was very easy and my company is now covered.
Alessandro helped me and he was so kind. It was my first time getting business insurance and it was a very good rate, so helpful too!
Easy to work with and thorough with what is being requested and provided.
Excellent experience with Shantana on all the occasions we had the pleasure to speak with a rep.
Straight to the point. Very easy and convenient
A Company that is easy to deal with and that I have used for several years. I appreciate the continued support.
Super easy and detailed
This company is excellent! They provided my business with General and Professional liability. Something that no other company could provide at a good price. BizInsure covered me and the rate is Unbeatable. I will continue to use them for all my business insurance needs.
Alex was very helpful answering all my questions. I am very happy that he will be my contact person , if I should have any other questions. Thank you to Alex
Bizinsure is an exceptional company. The customer service is excellent. The receptionists are very knowledgeable. The insurance agents are very professional.
I use this for my Business and its easy to navigate and start
Quick and professional service
Great quote for Professional and Liability!
Signing up was easy.
You guy are wonderful, very professional and honest. It was a very smooth process. very affordable. thank you. Calves Blake
Great value, customer service, and ease of communication.
Loved working with Bizinsure! Andrea was fantastic and made the process so easy!
BIZNSURE LLC, is outstanding the process was easy and quick. I was walked through step by step
Very easy to work with, cost effective, prompt renewal and easy to get certificates of insurance instantly. I use them exclusively for my professional and general liability insurance needs as a consultant. They simply make my insurance be easy!
BizInsure's online quote and process was quick, easy, and affordable. Jennifer, one of the representatives from BizInsure was great. She was very professional, attentive, and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend this company to small businesses.
Very easy..straight forward..quick





    This will close in 0 seconds