Reporting an Injury: A Step-by-Step Guide

Home » Practice Areas » Workers Compensation » Reporting an Injury: A Step-by-Step Guide

Reporting an Injury: A Step-by-Step Guide

After you’ve been injured at work, you must report the incident immediately to protect your rights under Minnesota’s workers’ compensation laws. Missing a reporting deadline could delay your claim or result in denial of benefits.

It also benefits the employers, as it provides them with the information they need to meet their legal obligations and begin the claims process. Basically, the sooner the injury is documented, the smoother the process will likely be for everyone involved.

This guide will walk you through each step of reporting a work-related injury to give your claim the best chance at approval

Recognize the Injury or Condition

Before you can report an incident, you’ll need some background information on what qualifies as a work-related injury or illness under Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system:

Sudden injuries that occur in a specific incident or accident, such as slipping and falling, being struck by equipment, or suffering a burn. These are often the easiest to recognize compared to the other types that emerge gradually.
Repetitive injuries that develop slowly, such as back pain from years of heavy lifting. Though these are not immediately apparent, they’re still reportable if work contributed to them.
Occupational illnesses are long-term health problems caused by exposure to harmful substances or hazardous conditions at work. Examples include respiratory illnesses from chemical fumes or hearing loss from excessive noise exposure.
Workers may also experience psychological injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly if they have been exposed to traumatic events in the workplace. For example, a worker who witnesses a violent incident or experiences ongoing harassment may develop PTSD as a result. These mental health conditions are just as reportable as physical injuries as long as they are linked to work-related experiences.

Recognizing and reporting all types of injuries and conditions, even those that seem minor at first, is critical. What may start as a small issue could worsen over time, and reporting the injury as soon as you notice it ensures that appropriate documentation is in place if your condition later requires medical treatment or time off work.

Report the Injury to Your Employer Immediately

Under Minnesota workers’ compensation law, employees are required to report their injury to their employer within 14 days of the incident for full benefits.

Reporting beyond 30 days could result in a denial of the claim unless there are exceptional circumstances. For occupational diseases or conditions like PTSD that develop over time, the clock typically starts when you reasonably become aware that the condition is work-related.

The deadlines for reporting an injury can be summarized as”

Within 14 Days: Notice is on time, and the employer can’t deny the worker’s compensation claim because you gave late notice of injury.
15-30 Days: Your employer is allowed to deny your claim because of late notice only if they are able to show that it has been prejudiced, or harmed, by the delay.
31-180 Days: Your employer is allowed to deny the claim unless the delay was due to a) your ignorance of fact or law b) your inability to give notice, or c) dishonesty by your employer or employer’s agent.
More Than 180 Days: No worker’s compensation claim benefits are allowed unless the reason you did not give notice was because of mental or physical incapacitation.

File the First Report of Injury (FROI)

In Minnesota, after you report your injury, it is your employer’s responsibility to file a First Report of Injury (FROI) with their workers’ compensation insurer within 10 days of the first day of disability or the date they were aware of the disability.

What to Include in Your First Report of Injury

Your employer should have an injury report form available for employees, but if they don’t, you can still document the incident via email or letter. Just be sure to save a copy and include the following information:

Date and time of the injury.
Location where the injury occurred.
Description of how the injury happened.
Names of any witnesses who were present at the time of the incident.
Symptoms you are experiencing and any initial treatment you sought.

Once completed, turn it in to your employer to file with their insurer and the MNDOL. This document officially starts the claims process, so follow up with your employer to confirm that the FROI has been filed. Your benefits can be delayed if your employer fails to do so.

If you don’t receive a copy of the form within 10 days, contact the worker’s compensation attorneys at Meuser Law.

You can do it yourself if your employer refuses to file the FROI, but it may also be a sign that they’re unwilling to cooperate with the claim. Don’t let their denial stop you from obtaining your rightful benefits.

Our experienced work comp lawyers can help you through filing a worker’s compensation claim, including self-reporting your injury.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Seeing a doctor right away serves two main purposes.

First, it helps prevent your injury from getting worse because your doctor can set you on the proper treatment path before the injury is further exacerbated.

Second, it establishes a clear medical record of your condition, which starts your worker’s compensation claim off on solid ground. On the other hand, if you delay treatment, the workers’ compensation insurer might question the seriousness of your injury or even challenge whether it’s work-related.

As for conditions that develop over time, like repetitive stress injuries or occupational diseases, you’ll need to get examined as soon as you notice symptoms to start establishing the link between your injury and work duties.

You’ll also want to immediately let them know that the condition is work-related so they can note it on your health records. These detailed documents are key evidence in workers’ compensation cases, so the more information you can get together throughout the process, the stronger the connection between your job role and the medical concern.

Your doctor will also need to complete a Report of Work Ability (RWA) that details your work restrictions and functional limitations, as it will be used to either determine a change in your job description or serve as evidence of your inability to work.

Start Compiling Any Relevant Records

Properly documenting your work-related injury supports your workers’ compensation claim. Accurate documentation helps establish the cause, nature, and extent of your injury, making it absolutely essential for determining your eligibility for benefits and the level of compensation you receive.

Keep a folder– digital or physical– that includes the date of the injury, the circumstances of the incident, and records of any pain or symptoms you’re experiencing. You should also file away these documents:

The initial injury report you provided your employer
Copy of all medical reports, diagnoses, and treatment plans
Dates of doctor visits, therapy sessions, and surgeries
Ask your employer for a copy of the FROI
The dates you were unable to work due to your injury
Official work restrictions and return-to-work notes
Copies of any emails, letters, or phone call summaries with your employer, your doctor, and the worker’s compensation insurer.
Treatment receipts and mileage records. If you pay out-of-pocket for medical treatments and the gasoline required to drive to appointments, they may be compensable under Minnesota’s workers’ compensation laws.

Continue Monitoring Your Work Comp Claim

Staying on top of the entire worker’s compensation process demonstrates your commitment to resolving the claim and helps prevent unnecessary delays or complications. Your active involvement also informs you of any developments in your claim so you can address them promptly.

One way to stay engaged is to maintain open lines of communication with your employer and their workers’ compensation insurance carrier.

You should stay in touch with your employer about:

Updates on your ability to return to work and any changes in work restrictions provided by your doctor
Any return-to-work discussions, such as offers of light-duty positions that accommodate your medical restrictions. Make sure you communicate your recovery status clearly to avoid any misunderstandings.

You should stay in touch with your insurer about:

Medical appointments, treatments, or any significant changes to your health that could impact your claim.
If your doctor updates your work restrictions or determines that you can return to work in some capacity.
Prompt responses to any requests from the insurer for additional documentation, such as updated medical records or work status forms.

Don’t wait to get an attorney involved if you have a Minnesota workers’ compensation claim. The process can be complex, and you want to be sure you receive the full benefits to which you are entitled.

Contact Meuser Law for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation and claim evaluation.

Request a free Case Evaluation

Our services are free unless we help you recover benefits

Click here for a free Case Evaluation

Our services are free unless we help you recover benefits

Request a free Case Evaluation

Reporting an Injury: A Step-by-Step Guide