Attorney Michael K. Pence takes great personal pride in representing injured workers all across Tennessee.  The Workers’ Compensation laws in Tennessee are complicated and without the help of an experienced Attorney like Mr. Pence, you may not get the compensation you deserve.

What To Do When Injured On The Job

REPORT THE JOB INJURY IMMEDIATELY: When injured at work, the Tennessee worker should report the injury in writing immediately. If circumstances prevent the employee from making an immediate report on the workplace injury (for example, because he or she is unconscious), Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law requires the workplace injury be reported within thirty (30) days after the injury occurred. Your Tennessee employer must complete a Form C-20, known as the “First Report of Work Injury,” and should be completed for every workplace injury that has you or another employee seek medical attention.

OBTAIN MEDICAL TREATMENT: Whether or not your Tennessee employer believes the claim valid, Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law requires that your employer to report the claim to their insurance carrier and provide you, in writing, the choice of three physicians (four, including a chiropractor, if the workplace injury is a back injury). These doctors listed for examining your workplace injury must not be “associated in practice” (work together) and be reasonably near your residence. You should be allowed a free choice among these three, but note that once you choose, you are required to accept the doctor’s treatment and not see another medical practitioner unless your chosen doctor makes a referral.

PAYMENT WHILE UNABLE TO WORK: If your physician removes you from work for more than seven (7) days, you may be entitled to begin temporary disability payments. An injured employee is not paid for the first seven days (not including the date of injury). On the eighth day following the workplace injury, you become eligible for one day’s benefit. Each following day of injury-prohibited work then counts for another day of eligible benefit (so on the ninth day unable to work, an injured Tennessee employee is eligible for two days’ benefits). If this off-work period continues until a 14th day, the injured Tennessee employee becomes eligible for all days missed, including the first seven (so on the 15th day, an injured Tennessee employee is eligible for 15 days’ benefits), and continues to accrue days at the rate of one per missed day.

OBTAIN LEGAL REPRESENTATION: Tennessee Workers Compensation law is complex and confusing to out-of-state attorneys who don’t have the Tennessee experience of Attorney Michael K. Pence and his staff. Unless your worker’s compensation lawyer has experience with Tennessee work comp law and insurance companies, you may not be told all your available options or know whether your case is being treated fairly. Don’t wait. Tennessee law puts deadlines on when you file the appropriate paperwork or you might lose your right to a worker’s compensation claim if you delay.