Nevada Workers Compensation: Filing and Appeals Process

Every year in Nevada, people are injured or get sick on the job. In addition to medical costs, workplace injury and illness can adversely impact a person’s ability to work in the future, as well as hurting overall workplace productivity. To address some of the costs associated with workplace injuries, the state of Nevada allows injured employees to file for worker’s compensation.

The Nevada worker’s compensation process is three-fold: the application process, the decision stage and if needed, the appeal phase.

Filing for Workers Compensation in Nevada

When someone has sought treatment for a workplace injury or occupational disease, they should get an Employee’s Claim for Compensation/Report of Initial Treatment (Also known as a C-4 form) from the treating doctor or hospital. The employee should also speak with their supervisor/manager and get a Notice of Injury or Occupational Disease-Incident Report. (Also known as a C-1 form). Time is of the essence: an employee has only seven days to complete the C-1 form, whereas the doctor/hospital providing treatment has only three days to forward the C-4 form to the appropriate insurance provider and employer.

The aforementioned forms are only the start of the process, though. That is because the injured party has only ninety days to file a workers compensation claim with the Nevada Workers Compensation Section. After receiving the claim, the agency has thirty days to either accept or deny the claim. In instances where a particular employer lacks workers compensation coverage, the state will investigate and notify the employee of their options. (Which includes possible benefits from Nevada’s Uninsured Employer Account). If the state grants benefits, they can include lost time compensation, varying levels of disability payments and even vocational rehabilitation.

Post-Application Concerns

If the state denies the claim, then the claimant has the right to appeal, although the injured party must seek review in a timely manner. The claimant has seventy days to file an appeal with the Nevada Department of Administration, Hearings Division. (In instances of a Managed Care Organization’s determination, the claimant has only thirty days to file for further review).

In addition to the usual filing and appeals process, the state of Nevada also allows for lifetime reopening for worker compensation claims, and thus, the claimant should always retain any and all relevant paperwork.

Getting Legal Help

Most people can handle the initial stages of the Nevada’s workers compensation process by themselves. Unfortunately, if benefits are denied, the claimant will often find themselves in a stressful situation. But by acquiring the services of a qualified workers compensation lawyer, who knows the appropriate rules and regulations, an injured employee can increase the chances of getting the benefits that are rightfully theirs.

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