Memphis, TN Guide to Responding After a Workplace Injury

A workplace injury can create immediate concerns about medical care, missed pay, job duties, and paperwork. In Memphis, TN, employees generally should treat the first hours and days after an injury as a period for protecting both their health and their workers’ compensation claim.

What should you do immediately after being injured at work?

Get emergency medical care first if the injury is severe. Call for urgent help if there is heavy bleeding, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, a suspected head or spinal injury, severe burns, or another condition that cannot safely wait.

For less serious injuries, notify a supervisor as soon as possible. Give a clear description of:

• What happened
• The date and approximate time
• Where the incident occurred
• The body parts affected
• Any symptoms that appeared later
• Names of witnesses, if known

Do not assume that a minor injury is insignificant. Some conditions, including strains, repetitive-use injuries, hearing problems, and exposure-related illnesses, may become more noticeable over time.

If the injury occurred because of a dangerous condition, preserve available evidence when it is safe to do so. This may include photographs, incident reports, work schedules, equipment information, safety instructions, and written communications about the event. Avoid altering a hazardous area or handling damaged equipment unless necessary for safety.

How soon must a Tennessee employee report a work injury?

Tennessee employees generally have 15 calendar days from when they knew or should have known about a suspected work-related injury to notify the employer. Reporting immediately is safer because delays can create questions about when the injury occurred and whether work caused it.

A verbal report may start the process, but written notice creates a clearer record. A short email, letter, or internal incident report should identify the injury and explain that it happened in connection with work. Keep a copy and note the date, recipient, and method of delivery.

The employer typically reports the injury to its workers’ compensation insurance carrier. An insurance adjuster should generally contact the injured employee after receiving notice. If no one follows up, the employee should continue documenting communications and asking what medical-care process applies.

Where should you receive medical treatment?

For a non-emergency workplace injury, Tennessee employers generally provide a panel of physicians from which the employee selects an authorized treating physician. The employer should provide the panel after learning that medical care is needed, and the employee should understand which provider is authorized before scheduling routine treatment.

Emergency treatment may occur before an authorized physician is selected. After emergency care, ask the employer or adjuster how follow-up treatment should be arranged.

Medical benefits for a compensable injury can include doctor visits, hospital care, medication, therapy, medical equipment, and other reasonably necessary treatment. Treatment is generally provided without cost to the employee when it is authorized and related to the workplace injury.

Tell every medical provider that the condition is work-related. Describe symptoms accurately, including symptoms that seem minor. Do not exaggerate, but do not leave out pain, numbness, weakness, sleep problems, or limitations that affect daily activities.

What should you do if the doctor places you on restrictions?

Follow the physician’s written restrictions exactly. Restrictions may limit lifting, standing, reaching, driving, repetitive motion, working hours, or other activities.

Give the employer a copy of the restrictions and keep the original. If light-duty work is offered, compare the assignment with the medical instructions. Do not perform work that exceeds those restrictions, but do not ignore a medically appropriate assignment without understanding the possible consequences.

An employer may be able to provide temporary work within the restrictions. If the employee earns less because of reduced hours or modified work, temporary partial disability benefits may apply. If the authorized physician removes the employee from work entirely, temporary total disability benefits may be available.

In Tennessee, temporary disability benefits generally begin after seven days of disability. If the disability lasts at least 14 days, benefits may be paid retroactively for the first seven days. Payments are generally due no later than 15 calendar days after notice of a compensable injury, subject to the facts of the claim.

What records should an injured worker keep?

Create a file from the beginning. Useful records include:

• The original injury report
• Medical records and work-status notes



• Dates of appointments and missed work
• Mileage to and from authorized medical treatment
• Pay stubs and wage information
• Emails, text messages, and letters about the injury
• Names of adjusters, supervisors, witnesses, and medical providers
• Notes about symptoms and how they affect work or home activities

Keep a symptom journal with dates and specific examples. “Back pain” is less informative than “pain increased after standing for 20 minutes and made it difficult to climb stairs.”
Mileage reimbursement may be available for travel to medical treatment when the trip exceeds 15 miles one way. Maintain the date, destination, and distance for each eligible visit.

What if the claim is denied or treatment is delayed?

A denied claim does not necessarily mean the injury is not work-related. Disputes may involve the timing of notice, whether the condition arose from employment, the need for treatment, the employee’s job status, or the extent of disability.
Ask for the denial or treatment refusal in writing. Continue following medical instructions, attend scheduled appointments, and preserve all related paperwork. If the employer has not provided an appropriate physician panel, or if authorized treatment is not being arranged, document those problems promptly.
Unrepresented parties may seek information and assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Ombudsman Program. The program helps employees and employers understand the workers’ compensation process, although it does not act as a private attorney or decide every disputed issue.

How long does an injured worker have to file a claim?

Notice to the employer and filing a formal claim are different steps. Although an employee generally has 15 calendar days to report the injury, Tennessee law generally provides a one-year period to file a workers’ compensation claim. Exceptions and special rules can apply, particularly for occupational diseases, delayed discoveries, and claims involving later medical treatment.
Waiting until the deadline is risky. Records may become harder to obtain, witnesses may forget details, and medical evidence may be more difficult to connect to the job. A serious dispute about eligibility, permanent impairment, unpaid benefits, or a settlement may require advice specific to the facts.

Does workers’ compensation prevent other claims?

Workers’ compensation is usually the primary system for job-related injuries involving an employer and employee. However, a separate claim may sometimes exist against a negligent third party, such as a driver, property owner, equipment manufacturer, or contractor.
That issue depends on who caused the injury and the circumstances of the incident. Do not assume that workers’ compensation is the only possible source of recovery, but do not assume a separate lawsuit exists either. Different deadlines and legal standards may apply.
Workers should also be cautious before signing a settlement. A settlement may address future medical care, permanent disability, unpaid benefits, or other issues. Once certain rights are released, reopening the matter may be difficult. Read the terms carefully and understand what benefits remain available before agreeing.

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Employee reporting a workplace injury to a supervisor beside a medical form and hard hat.