Over the past several years, Kentucky has made significant strides in the area of workplace safety. In 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS) reported that the state had its lowest work injury rate since 1996 (the first year for which comprehensive data was recorded).
While this is certainly very good news, there is no doubt that Kentucky still has a very long way to go. There were more than 40,000 work injuries reported in 2016, and Kentucky’s work injury rate is higher than the national average.
If you or a loved one was hurt while on the job, you have important legal rights. Kentucky’s has a workers’ compensation law that provides ‘no fault’ medical, wage-loss, and disability benefits to employees who were hurt on the job.
If you are considering filing a workers’ compensation claim, you need to be ready to take action. The Kentucky workers’ compensation law has a strict statute of limitations.
What is the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Statute of Limitations?
Under Kentucky’s labor regulations (KRS 342.185), there is a two-year statute of limitations on all Kentucky workers’ compensation claims. This means you have two years from the date of your injury, or two years from the date of the last voluntary workers’ compensation indemnity payment was made, to file your claim.
Your claim does not necessarily need to be fully settled within this time period; it must simply be filed. There is no benefit to waiting to take action. The sooner you get your claim started, the better off you will be. Not only will you be able to get your benefits more quickly this way, but it will be easier to compile the evidence needed to put together the strongest possible legal case.
Other Important Deadlines: Reporting Your Accident & Filing an Appeal
The Kentucky workers’ compensation statute of limitations is not the only important deadline that injured Kentucky employees need to consider. There are other very strict deadlines that could impact your claim.
To start, you are legally obligated to report your workplace accident to your employer immediately. Of course, your emergency medical needs are always more important than filing a report; but, as soon as you are able to do so, you should be sure to notify your supervisor that you were injured on the job.
In addition, if your Kentucky workers’ compensation claim was denied, you will only have a limited amount of time to file an appeal. Injured workers should never give up fighting for their full benefits after receiving an initial denial. For many different reasons, initial workers’ compensation claims are incorrectly denied. You have a right to appeal the decision.
Contact Our Louisville, KY Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Today
At Harville Law Offices, PLLC, our Kentucky workers’ compensation lawyers have helped many injured victims recover their full benefits. If you have any questions about your legal rights, or if your workers’ compensation claim was denied, we are prepared to assist you.
Please call our law office today at (502) 272-9051 for your free consultation. We represent injured workers in Louisville and throughout the surrounding communities, including in Jefferson County, Clark County, and Harrison County.
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