• To begin the claims process, employers must complete and turn in the first report of injury form within a specified time frame.
• There are several documents included in the workers compensation claims process, and employers should keep all related documents for at least 10 years.

All claims start with the first report of injury form. Each state’s form is a little different, but they all ask for a description of the incident and the claimant’s information. The first report must be turned in to the insurance carrier or state agency within a legally specified time period that varies from state to state. Best practice is to turn it in within 24 hours of an incident.

Turning in a claim does not indicate acceptance. That is not the employer’s call. Claim denial or acceptance should be left up to the insurer; however, the employer should fully investigate all accidents and let the claims adjuster know of any misgivings they may have about a claim.

Other documents used in the workers’ compensation (WC) process include:

• Additional state forms,
• Accident investigation report,
• Witness statements,
• Medical reports,
• Job descriptions, and
• Light duty options list.

An employer can get copies of state-required insurance forms by contacting their insurance agency or the state’s WC division.

Experts recommend keeping all claim-related documents for at least 10 years after a claim has been closed. There is always the possibility that the claim could be reopened or a lawsuit filed.