Workers’ compensation provides temporary disability benefits while you’re unable to work, payment for medical treatment, and compensation for permanent disability.
-
- Medical Care: Workers compensation pays for proper and necessary medical treatment for work-related injuries or occupational illnesses at no cost to the employee. Medical treatment includes doctor visits, prescriptions, surgery, physical therapy and other treatment needed for you to recover. This medical care is paid for by your employer.
-
- Temporary Disability Benefits: Payments for lost wages due to a work-related injury or occupational illness if you are unable to perform your usual job while recovering.
-
- Permanent Disability Benefits: Compensation for workers left with a permanent impairment that results in a partial or total disability.
Permanent total disability benefits are provided to workers who will never be able to return to any type of work due to a workplace injury or illness. These benefits are regular monetary payments that are a percentage of the workers’ wages at the time of the injury. A permanent partial disability is a physical impairment that permanently affects one or more parts of the body, but does not prevent an individual from returning to some form of employment. Benefits for these disabilities are awarded in either a lump sum payment or paid over time.
-
- Supplemental Benefits: In some instances, injured workers are entitled to vouchers to assist in retraining in the event recovery is not complete and the worker is unable to return to his or her usual job duties.
- Death Benefits: Compensation to the children, spouse and/or other dependents of a worker who dies as a result of work-related injury or illness.
If you have been injured at work, you should immediately obtain first-aid or any other necessary medical treatment. You must also notify your employer in writing about the injury as soon as possible. If you fail to do so, you may forfeit your right to workers’ compensation benefits. In order to be eligible for benefits, you must also file a claim with the workers’ compensation board.
Workplace injuries and illnesses can have devastating and long-lasting consequences. If you have been injured at work, you need a highly skilled and compassionate attorney on your side. Not only are workers’ compensation laws complex, your employer or his or her insurance company may try to deny payment of your benefits. Our workers’ compensation attorneys will fight to ensure that you receive the benefits you deserve. Attorneys’ fees are determined by state law and you will only pay a fee if you win a disability award. Call our office today for a free consultation.
