Residents of the Volunteer State with workplace injuries or illnesses — except those who work for the Federal government — can file a Tennessee workers’ compensation claim. To make sure you get the benefits you deserve, read over the following tips and information.
Tennessee Workers’ Comp Eligibility
With few exceptions, the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Reform Act of 2013 mandates coverage for:
- All businesses with five or more full- or part-time employees
- Mining or construction industry employers, even if they only have one employee
Construction companies with approved applications from the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Exemption Registry may be exempt from mandatory coverage requirements.
Click here to find out when it makes sense to work with a workers’ compensation attorney.
How to File a Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Claim
Before you do anything else, if your on-the-job illness or injury requires emergency or urgent care, get treatment immediately.
Then follow this process outlined by the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation:
- You must notify your supervisor of your workplace illness or injury within 15 calendar days of the incident. Caution: Don’t miss the deadline or you may be disqualified from receiving benefits.
- Your supervisor must notify the employer’s insurer within one business day using Form C-20, Tennessee Employer’s First Report of Work Injury or Illness.
- The insurance adjuster must contact you within 48 hours with additional questions and accept or deny your claim within 14 calendar days.
- If your claim’s approved, you must sign and return Form C-42, Agreement Between Employer/Employee’s Choice of Physician, showing at least three nearby doctors willing to treat you under your employer’s coverage. Caution: Keep a signed copy for your personal records.
- If your claim’s denied, you can appeal within one year from the date of your injury by filing a Petition for Benefit Determination Form with the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
Every case is unique, so your own process may vary. Review the Beginner’s Guide to Workers’ Compensation to learn more.
Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Statistics
To understand more about how workers’ comp works in the Volunteer State, take a look at this data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It shows how many claims were filed, how many employees had to change jobs or miss work, and which job sectors had the most claims. While the total number of cases and the claims in the services sector have dropped, the number of employees who missed work, transferred jobs or received restrictions rose sharply.
Learn more about workers’ compensation benefits.
Free Legal Assistance with Your Claim
When you’re dealing with a work-related illness or injury, navigating the Tennessee workers’ compensation system can make you feel even worse.
Consider working with an experienced workers’ comp attorney for free, confidential claim assistance. These specialists typically work on a contingency basis. In other words, you don’t pay a fee unless you win benefits. Instead, you only pay a reasonable, one-time fee if your case is successful.
Ready to see if you may qualify? Click the button below to start your free online benefits evaluation now!
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Margot Lester is the CEO ofThe Word Factory,a B2B & B2C content marketing agency that provides services for Fortune 100 brands, healthtech companies and SaaS developers. An award-winning business and brand journalist, she writes for daily and weekly newspapers and business journals, national magazines, in-flight publications and leading websites. Margot is also an in-demand writing coach and organizational communications trainer,helping individuals and teams write more effectively. Twitter/X:@word_factoryLinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/margotlester.
