If you were involved in a workplace accident, you may be wondering how workers’ compensation payments work. To start, you can file a claim with your employer to receive compensation for your losses. This process requires you to meet with a medical practitioner, establish your losses, and bring your claim to the attention of the appropriate individuals.
It is possible for your request for workers’ compensation to be denied. If you believe that a pre-existing condition contributed to that denial, or if you want to fight for a settlement with a personal injury claim, you can reach out to a workers’ compensation lawyer to start building your case. The same attorney can help you craft your first complaint by addressing all your potential avenues for compensation.
Check with an Approved Healthcare Professional
If you have healthcare through your employer, you can attend the appropriate medical professional’s office and determine the severity of your injuries. An attending medical professional can help you determine if you are fit to return to work and how long your recovery may take. These professionals can also outline any additional treatments or medical aids that you may need to ease your recovery.
Report Your Injury
To get started, you will want to report your injury to your employer within your state’s mandated statute of limitations. In doing so, you will make it easier for your employer to report your losses to your workers’ compensation insurance carrier.
If your employer refuses to report the aforementioned information, you can look into the plan yourself and contact a representative.
Fight for Your Benefits
With information filed regarding your injury, you can begin to calculate an estimate of your potential compensation. The benefits covered by a workers’ compensation claim can include but are not limited to:
- Medical expenses related to your recovery
- Wages you may have lost while recovering
- The cost of return medical visits or other continued care
- Funeral expenses
Note that these are economic benefits and do not include pain and suffering or other non-economic avenues for compensation. To pursue such compensation, you can work with a workers’ compensation lawyer in your area.
On average, workers’ compensation can cover you for upwards of $40,000, according to the National Safety Council. This can come in the form of a lump sum or extended payments, depending on the conditions under which you suffered.
Take in Your Benefits and Recover
If your claim is approved, you can then accept your benefits in a lump sum or on a month-by-month basis. With those means at your disposal, you can then focus on recovering as best as you can.
If your claim ends up denied, you have a few courses of action available to you. You can use your PTO to take time off and recover while filing another claim. Alternatively, you can seek out the aid of a workers’ compensation lawyer and file a complaint with your local court, outlining your needs and the reasons you believe you are entitled to additional compensation. This process can take some time, and it still requires you to meet your state’s statute of limitations for personal injury, but with a little bit of work, you can determine what your legal standing may be in the eyes of your state’s legislation.
Going Back to Work
As you recover, you will want to continue checking in with an approved medical professional to keep track of your status. This can help you determine when you may be able to return to work, and only this professional can finally approve your return to your place of employment. While your supervisor may push for you to return earlier, and while your benefits may run out, you will need to have your return approved by a medical professional. This way, said professional can determine if you have recovered to the point where it is safe for you to continue performing your previous duties.
A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help You Break Down Your Rights
If you believe the settlement an employer offers you is insufficient, or if you want assistance filing a workers’ compensation complaint, the team with Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can help. You do not need to worry about any service charges coming your way, either, as the firm operates on contingency. You will only receive a bill for the services you benefit from if a court or employer opts to award you the damages you lost in your workplace accident. Then, according to the American Bar Association (ABA), the firm can request a percentage of your settlement instead of payment from your savings.
If you are not sure what your legal standing is following a workplace accident or how workers’ compensation payments work, you do not have to struggle with legal complexities on your own. Reach out to a representative of Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (800) 603-4224 for assistance.
