1. Designate one individual as claims coordinator, to whom ALL injuries are immediately reported- Suggestions are HR manager, office manager or controller.
2. Fill out all injury paperwork as soon as practical and follow state guidelines for reporting.
3. Claims coordinator is the only person to work with the insurance agent regarding reporting of injuries.
4. Claims coordinator is to work with your agent to determine if injury is immediately reportable. If you have a large deductible ($1,000 if your policy allows it, may reduce your rates) your agent may advise you to pay the claim on a minor injury.
5. Back/Neck injuries are always high-risk injuries as well as any injury involving lost time.
6. Have a pre-arranged location for all injuries to be treated such as the local clinic or hospital. Local clinic is a better choice due to follow up unless it is a serious injury that can't be treated there.
7. Claims coordinator must follow the entire injury and recovery. The goal is to get the employee healed, released and back to work as quickly as possible.
8. Employees must report each visit for treatment to claims coordinator as well as progress reports.
9. Make it policy that injured employees must attend every scheduled visit. You would be surprised how many employees "feel better" so they skip follow-up appointments which delay return to work releases.
10. Keep lines of communication open with facility that provided treatment. Most will release appointment schedules with you to insure that the employee follows through.
11. If the employee can return to work in a limited capacity make every effort to utilize them—every dollar they draw in payroll reduces the amount against your claims loss record. You can ask the medical provider if this is possible, your employee may think just because he can't do his regular job he can't come back to work.
12. Employees must have work release to return to work. Skipping final appointments because "I know I can go back to work" are not acceptable and usually end in a more costly claim.
13. Make sure that everyone at the dealership knows the plan of action. Who-who is in charge of claims, what-all injuries are to be reported, where-facility chosen for treatment, and when-immediately notify claims coordinator.

Remember, the goal of all of this is to minimize the claim loss through proper management and follow-up with your injured employee, therefore lowering your future premiums. This can be obtained through long term commitment and consistency in claims as well as diligent risk management. Anything that increases the bottom line is POSITIVE!