Did You Know?

*You have a right to hire an attorney to help get benefits or to help resolve disputes.

*You have a right to see a Doctor of your choice, and you are not required to see the Company Doctor until you are released to return to work by your own Doctor.

*You have a right to receive income benefits if you are off work for more than one week due to your compensable injury.

*You have a right to receive medical care reasonable and necessary to treat your work related injury or illness.

*You have the right to be reimbursed for medications prescribed for your compensable injury.

*The insurance carrier must request and receive an order from the Commission before you are required to see a Doctor of their choice.

*You cannot be penalized for not agreeing to see a Doctor representing the insurance company, although you must see their Doctor upon receipt of an order from the Commission.

*The insurance carrier may only request that you see one of their Doctors every 6 months.

*You have the right to have the Commission appoint a neutral, designated Doctor if you disagree with an important rating given by a Company Doctor, an insurance carrier Doctor or even your own treating Doctor.

Important Things To Remember

*Immediately report the injury to your supervisor.

*Make sure that a written report is made and keep a copy for yourself.

*Have witnesses to the accident write a statement of what happened and have them sign and date it. Keep these statements for your records in case your claim is disputed.

*Find out who your Worker's Compensation insurance carrier is and write down their information. Your employer is required to have this information displayed in a prominent place.

*You do not have to give a recorded statement.

*You must fill out a Notice of Claim form called "TWCC-41" and return it to the Commission or you could lose the right to receive benefits. Do not let your employer fill out this form for you and then have you sign it. Always fill it out yourself. It may be handwritten. Make sure you include all areas of your body affected by your accident.

*Do not bill any medical treatment for your work related injury to your private insurance. Always make sure that any doctor you see knows that your injury is work related. Do not give any doctor or hospital your private insurance information. You could waive your right to benefits if you do.