If you work for CVS, and you have suffered an injury or injuries because of a workplace accident, you might have a strong enough case to file a workers’ compensation claim. Each state has established the guidelines for filing a claim. For example, some states allow workers to seek compensation for covering the costs of vocational retraining. However, there are several elements of a workers’ comp claim that do not vary between the states. You need to report the injury immediately, seek medical attention, and gather convincing evidence that demonstrates how the workplace injury negatively impacted your finances. Report the Injury Right after the Accident Timing is a large part of filing a successful workers’ comp claim, and the first order of business is to inform the manager on duty about the accident and your injuries. Your manager should document the accident, from the time it happened to when you reported it. Every state places a time limit on when workers have to report workplace accidents that caused one or more injuries. Missing the reporting deadline will prevent you from receiving just compensation. Make sure to report the workplace accident to a supervisor, and not the corporate office. The supervisor represents the liaison between you and the management team that investigates workplace accidents. Get Your Injuries Check Out The key to winning and workers’ comp claim is to prove you required medical care to heal the injuries. After reporting the incident to a CVS manager, you should visit with a physician to diagnose your injuries. If you postpone medical care, your employer can argue that your injuries were not serious enough to warrant missing time from work. Some states require workers’ to visit with a physician that is recommended by the insurance company. Make sure to get a second opinion, as a doctor referred by an insurance company does not have your best financial interests in mind. If your injuries required immediate transportation to a hospital then ask a fellow worker that you trust to document what happened at the accident scene. Document Everything Workers’ compensation covers the costs associated with medical care. From the diagnostic report to an expensive procedure used to set a broken bone, workers’ comp is a public sector insurance program that employers buy to protect their financial interests. You have to submit medical bills to establish your financial liability, as well as make copies of every receipt, including prescriptions, medical equipment, and rehabilitation sessions. Workers’ comp also takes care of lost wages. Your employer should provide you with the paperwork that confirms the amount of time you missed because of your injuries. Contact HR If CVS balks at compensating you for the costs associated with a workplace accident, you should reach out to the human resources department before filing a workers’ compensation claim. Human resources might not know about your case because it has not reached the filing of a claim stage. Describe what happened, as well as talk about the costs you have incurred because of your injuries. If HR does not support your claim, then you should contact a state-licensed workers’ comp attorney. A workers’ compensation lawyer will review your case during a free initial consultation. An attorney is also an important ally if the state board denies your workers’ compensation claim. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against CVS, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources How Much is a Claim Against CVS Worth?* Workers’ Compensation for Department Store Injuries
