No matter what industry you work in, you always run the risk of suffering an injury on the job. Whether it’s a factory worker losing a limb, a construction worker falling from a dangerous height, or even an office worker suffering a back injury from lifting heavy boxes, every worker could potentially have an accident that will leave them unable to work for a long period of time while they recover. What are your options if this occurs to you?
What does workers’ compensation do?
Workers’ compensation is a state mandated insurance program that your employer pays for. If you suffer an injury within the scope of your work duties, you can file a workers’ compensation claim with the insurance company.
If your injury qualifies, you can receive periodic payments to help you meet living expenses and pay for medical treatment while you are recovering and unable to work.
What do I have to do?
After an injury, the highest priority is seeking medical attention. However, after you’ve done that, you must report your injury to your employer. If you don’t, it could hurt your chances of being able to qualify for workers’ compensation payments.
Once you have a medical report detailing the extent of your injuries, you have the option of hiring an attorney to assist you in the filing process. While not mandatory, having an attorney can be very helpful, because the workers’ compensation claim filing process is full of forms to fill out and deadlines to comply with. If it’s necessary to negotiate with the insurance company, your attorney can help you with that as well.
It can be devastating to suffer a serious accident that leaves you unable to work for a long period of time. The ability to receive periodic workers’ compensation payments may be just what you need to see you through your recovery process until you can return to work.