Workplace injuries can be overwhelming, but knowing your rights is essential to securing the compensation you deserve. Whether you’re dealing with a sudden accident or a gradual injury from repeated work conditions, acting quickly is crucial.
A Knoxville workers’ compensation attorney or a Knoxville workplace injury lawyer can be your best ally in navigating Tennessee’s workers’ compensation laws. Understanding these laws, including the strict time limits for reporting an injury, can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
Is There a Time Limit for Reporting a Work-Related Injury?
If you were injured at work, you should promptly notify your employer. In Tennessee, you need to report your work-related injury to your supervisor within 15 days of the accident (or the date when a doctor first tells you that your injury is work-related) so that the proper forms and paperwork can be completed. This revision to a previous law which gave employees 30 days went into effect on July 1, 2016.
What is a Compensable Injury?
In Tennessee, a compensable injury under workers’ compensation law is one that arises “primarily out of and in the course and scope of employment, that causes death, disablement, or the need for medical treatment of the employee” (T.C.A. § 50-6-102(14)).
What if I was Injured Over a Period of Time?
A compensable gradual injury is the result of continual exposure to the conditions of employment, and there is no requirement that your injury be traceable to a definite moment in time or triggering event in order to be compensable (Wyatt v. Mueller Co.).
How Do I Know if I’m Getting the Compensation I Deserve?
The workers’ compensation rules can seem overwhelming, which is why it is often a good idea to enlist the help of an experienced attorney to help make sure you get the compensation you are owed.
If you have been injured at work, a Knoxville personal injury lawyer at The Lawyers of Brown & Roberto can work for you today. Give us a call at (865) 691-2777 or contact us through our website Brown & Roberto, PLLC to set up a free consultation.