Initial medical care in the event of an accident at work or occupational illness

The principle of official investigation applies in statutory accident insurance. This means that your employer's liability insurance association or accident insurance fund will automatically ("ex officio") carry out all necessary investigations as soon as it learns of your accident at work or commuting accident or an occupational disease.

• Depending on the damage to your health, consult a suitable doctor.
• In principle, you have a free choice of doctor. In the case of accidents at work, it is advisable to visit a doctor who is involved in the transitory doctor procedure of the statutory accident insurance. Alternatively, your employer's liability insurance association or accident insurance fund can help you find a suitable doctor.
• Inform your doctor that the reason for your visit is a work accident, commuting accident or occupational illness.
• You can find out which employers' liability insurance association or accident insurance fund is responsible for you on the website of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV).

You can also contact your employer's liability insurance association or accident insurance fund online or by post.

Online service:

• Call up the online service.
• You will be guided through the procedure on the accident insurance service portal.
• You can log in.
  • If you would like to receive a reply from your Berufsgenossenschaft or accident insurance fund in the mailbox of your BundID account or My Company Account, you must have an account and authenticate yourself.
  • If you would like to receive the reply by post, you can continue without registering.
• Select your responsible employers' liability insurance association or accident insurance fund or find them using the industry search.
• Upload the required documents.
• Complete the online form and send it off.
• Your notification will be automatically forwarded to your employers' liability insurance association or accident insurance fund.
• You will receive feedback via the desired channel.

Online service of your employers' liability insurance association or accident insurance fund:

• If you have access to the portal of your employers' liability insurance association or accident insurance fund, you can also submit the notification electronically there if necessary.

Message by post:

• Send an informal letter to your employers' liability insurance association or accident insurance fund.
• Make sure you provide the required information and enclose the necessary documents.

• Health damage requiring treatment as a result of an accident at work or on the way to work or an occupational disease
• First aid provided by a doctor

• none
• If required, your employer's liability insurance association or accident insurance fund will request the necessary documents directly from you

There are no costs.

There is no deadline.

Immediate treatment by the doctor

• § Section 27(1)(1) of the Seventh Book of the German Social Code (SGB VII)

• Appeal
• Detailed information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the notification from your employer's liability insurance association or accident insurance fund.

Forms available: No
Written form required: No
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance required: No
Online services available: Yes

06.01.2023