It's no secret that injuries can be very costly, both in terms of medical bills and lost productivity. But what happens after that initial injury? How do injured employees get compensated for their losses? What if the worker is still having trouble with their work after they've been injured?
In short, there are a lot of moving parts when it comes to workers' compensation. If you've been injured on the job, you need to ask for help navigating through the complex and often confusing workers' comp system.
Let's start with what happens right away after a workplace accident. You'll need to get medical attention and, depending on the severity of your injury, it may be days or weeks before your doctor gives you the all clear. Once you're OK, you'll likely receive a call from a claims adjuster who will try to get you to fill out paperwork about your injury. Once that paperwork is filled out and submitted to the insurance company, you'll be assigned to a lawyer who will handle the case for you. That means filing a claim, making sure you have the proper documentation, getting copies of any medical records, and preparing to answer questions from the insurance company.
But don't worry about the paperwork. The most important thing to remember is that you are owed benefits under the workers' comp system. The reason you need to have a lawyer on your side is to make sure that you receive those benefits.
Benefits are different for different kinds of injuries. Here are a few things you should know about benefits.
Compensation for injuries related to a specific job can be complicated. For instance, if you're injured while performing maintenance duties on an oil tanker, you may be entitled to medical expenses and lost wages from your employer, but you'll also have to pay for your own mileage and tolls. This can make the process more expensive.
Medical care – You'll need to be checked by a doctor. Your doctor may be able to provide some type of payment for your medical care.
Lost wages – Your employer will usually pay for some amount of your salary until you are able to return to work. This is generally called temporary total disability.
Rehabilitation services – This is typically paid to help with a recovery. It may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy.
Pain and suffering – Sometimes you may not be able to return to work at all. In that case, you may be entitled to a settlement for pain and suffering.
Funeral expenses – This is also covered by workers' comp. If you are killed in a workplace accident, your family will be eligible for a lump sum payout.
If you are injured on the job and have lost wages, you can receive additional compensation.
You'll also want to have a lawyer on your side to make sure you receive the full amount of compensation that you deserve. Workers' comp benefits are often difficult to receive. There are many factors that can affect how much you receive, including the type of injury, how serious it was, and how long you were out of work.
For more information on workers' comp benefits, check out the site http://www.wc.state.co.us/.