You are a small business owner and have done everything you can to make sure that your employees have a safe work environment. You make regular repairs, and you have your employees well trained on emergency and safety precautions concerning the type of work you have done. Yet despite this you have an injury that has just occurred in your building. What is your next step?

First let’s start off with what Worker’s Compensation insurance involves. It is a type of insurance that a business is required to keep on their employees. This insurance helps you take care of your workers in case of an injury of illness associated with your particular industry. This coverage also helps pay for your workers medical bills, rehab costs, lost pay and much more. You work with a credited insurance agency or provider in order to access what type and how much coverage you need.

When an accident happens you must immediately report it to your workers comp insurance carrier you are working with. The word ‘accident’ covers, injury, illness or disease that has resulted from working in your business environment. This action should be taken anytime an alleged incident has occurred and hospitalization or attention of a doctor is required.

Depending on the state your business the next steps might vary. The types of payments, the amount of payments, the level of coverage that you need for each employee also varies per state. It is best to contact your workers or industry commission to find out all the details. Your insurance agent is an invaluable resource as well.

If you do business or have a business in the state of North Carolina for example this would be to file a claim with the state. This claim should be filed if the injured party has missed more than one day of work or had a medical bill related to this injury over $2,000 connected to the accident at your facility.

The state entity that you would contact in North Carolina is the North Carolina Industry Commission. You, a representative for your company, or your insurance agent will need to notify this agency within five days of the injury or allegation. There is a special form that will need to be filled out called Form 19. This can be retrieved from the commission’s website.

Here is link to the workers comp fact page: http://www.ic.nc.gov/employers.html. There are links in which you can file this and subsequent forms you need electronically as well as easy access so that it can be printed and mailed.

Workers comp insurance is a legal obligation that helps save your and your workers time, money and a lot of aggravation. Take a look at the coverage and laws that you need to know. Pick an insurance agent that you trust and make your plans – the team here at The Hoffman Insurance Agency for example. Follow the rules if an injury or any other type of accident that is covered under these laws, and you will be well on your way to having you and your employees protected.