Filing a Workers' Compensation Claim in Arkansas:

• Workers' compensation coverage is paid by your employer at no charge to you.
• This coverage will pay for the reasonable necessary medical care you need.
• It is your responsibility to convey a work-related accident as soon as it happens.
• Your employer or its workers' compensation insurance carrier has the justification to choose the doctor who will treat you.
• Workers' compensation coverage will also restore part of your lost wages if your doctor says you must be out of work for a defined length of time.
• An employer must either purchase a workers' compensation insurance policy or obtain state approval to be self-insured to provide coverage to their employees. Any other arrangement by the employer's representative may constitute fraud.
• Attorney fees are limited to 25% of indemnity benefits by statute. In certain cases, the attorney fee may be added to the award.

Arkansas Waiting Period

• Once employers have received notification of an injury they must immediately send the state's "First Report of Injury" report to their insurance representative who, in turn, reports to the state on the employer's behalf.
• Generally, the employer is accountable for workers' compensation benefits to the injured employee for two years from the date of injury or, if it is a longer period of time, one year from the date of last payment for new benefits.
• If you have to miss work because of a work-related injury or illness, you may be eligible to receive some cash benefits (indemnity benefits). The waiting period for these benefits is seven (7) calendar days and must be at the direction of your approved doctor.
• These payments can help you through the period of time you are disabled from your workplace injury or illness. Your coverage begins on the eighth day of partial or total disability. You will be paid for the first seven (7) days only if you are disabled for more than fourteen (14) days. These days do not have to be continuous calendar days.

Arkansas Worker's Compensation Treatments

• Go to the doctor chosen by your employer or your employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier.
• Be sure to do everything possible to cooperate with your employer and the workers' compensation carrier. If you do not, your benefits may be stopped or delayed. Be sure you:
• Complete all workers' compensation forms in a timely manner.
• Keep all appointments.
• Report any earnings you get after your injury to the workers' compensation carrier.
• Get approval from the carrier before receiving treatment. If you are not satisfied with the doctor first assigned, ask your claims handler or carrier to approve another doctor. You may also write to the Commission to request a Change of Physician.
• You are not responsible for the doctor bills as long as the carrier approves the doctor you are seeing. If you see a doctor without the carrier's approval, you may be responsible for the bill. When you receive approved treatment, the doctor will bill the insurance carrier directly. If you are billed, send the bill to your employer or the carrier.
• Return to work as soon as the doctor says you can. Keep all records in a safe place for future reference.

Arkansas Worker's Compensation Benefits
Workers' Compensation insurance pays for all reasonably necessary medical care related to your on-the-job injury or illness including:

• Visits to an approved health care provider
• Surgery
• Hospital care
• Physical therapy
• Prescription drugs
• Braces and crutches
• Other medical supplies when ordered by your approved physician
• Payments are made for temporary total disability in an amount determined by a percentage of the worker's wage, subject to weekly maximum and minimum payment amounts. Payments may continue for up to 450 weeks.
• Payments are made for permanent total disability based upon a percentage of the worker's wage, subject to weekly minimum and maximum payment amounts. Payments for PTD continue for the duration of the disability.
• Payments for permanent partial disability are made based upon a percentage of the worker's wage, subject to weekly minimum and maximum payment amounts. Payments for PPD continue for up to 450 weeks.
• Scheduled awards are paid in addition to total temporary disability benefits starting upon termination of the termination of the TTD benefits. Scheduled awards are not reduced because of receipt of TTD benefits.
• Physical rehabilitation benefits are covered under medical services.
• Death benefits are payable to an employee's surviving spouse, or spouse and children, based upon a percentage of the employee's wages, subject to a cap. A minimum benefit is provided regardless of the employee's earnings. A burial allowance is available.

If you have legal questions and would like the help of an attorney who is knowledgeable about the laws of your state, click here for a free evaluation of your claim.

Arkansas Workers' Compensation Contact Information:
Butch Reeves, Chairman
Workers' Compensation Commission
324 Spring Street
P. O. Box 950
Little Rock, AR 72203-0950
(501) 682-3930 (501) 682-3930 or 1-800-622-4472, 1-800-622-4472

NOTICE: These questions and answers concern Arkansas law only, and should not be construed nor relied upon as reflecting the law in other States, nor as giving legal advice. You are warned that circumstances often vary greatly and that, due to changing decisions and law, the answers to these questions may change over time and not be current, and you should consult an attorney in any specific case, and NOT rely on these questions and answers as giving anything other than general information.