Info on Starting a Claim

Starting your Workers' Compensation Claim
It is very important that you notify your employer if you have been hurt on the job.	To do this you need to file a claim form, the DWC-1 (archived). You can also find instructions WCAB site here.
Filling out the claim form is pretty simple. It should be done on the day you get hurt, if you have suffered a specific injury. It should be done on the day you first seek medical treatment if you are filing a continuous trauma injury.	Specific Injury: A work injury that occurs at one time or over a short time (like 1 day). Example: You fall off a ladder at work and break your leg or you are lifting heavy boxes all day and by the end of the day your lower back hurts. Continuous trauma injury: A work injury that occurs over a period of time due to repetitive work activities. Example: Your wrists and hands begin to hurt after you have been doing computer data entry work over a period of six months. Finally, the pain is so great you need to be seen by a doctor.
The injury date is item #4 on the claim form.	If you are filing for a specific injury, enter the date as follows: 1/1/02 If you are fling a continuous trauma injury, enter the date you are seeking medical treatment and 1 year previous as follows: 1/1/01-1/1/02
Item #6 on the claim form asks for a description of the injury and the part of the body affected. Be sure to include every body part that is experiencing symptoms.	For example: If you fall off a ladder breaking your right leg and landing on your back and hitting your head, describe as follows: Right leg, back and head from fall off ladder. For example: If your injury is from repetitive work activities, describe as follows: Both hands, wrists and elbows from repetitive keyboarding.
Sign the form at item #8 and give it to your employer. Always keep a copy for your records.	The employer has one day to complete the bottom portion of the form and return it to you.
Copyright 2004, All rights reserved, Charles R. Wear