How Workers' Compensation Works

20 November 2014
 Categories: Law, Blog

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If had become injured while at work, you may be entitled to collecting workers' compensation benefits. These benefits are in place to help an injured person receive medical care at the cost to the company where the injury occurred. Here is some information that you can use to learn how to file and what to expect from worker's compensation.

I'm Injured - Now What?

When you have an injury on the job that lands you in the hospital or a doctor's office, you will need to file for workers' compensation as soon as your doctor lets you know that you are not clear to go back to work. This can be done through your employer. There will be forms that you need to fill out and mail to the state worker's compensation board.

Another way that you can file is through your doctor. If your doctor gives you the forms to mail in, the workers' compensation board will notify your employer that you have filed. Always file as soon as you are aware that the injury you sustained is keeping you from working. It is recommended to do this before 30 to 45 days after the date of the injury, otherwise insurance may deny any claims.

What Benefits Will I Be Able To Collect?

Here are the benefits that you should be able to collect from workers' compensation. Amounts and duration of the benefits you receive may vary slightly from state to state.

Reimbursement for all medical expenses - this would include a trip to the hospital, any follow-up visits with your doctor, any physical therapy that was needed and expenses incurred for transportation related to any of these

Reimbursement for any salary lost while you recover - you should receive workers' compensation checks in the amount of 2/3 of what you were receiving when you were on the job - this will last for three to seven years depending on what state you live in

Vocational training - if you can return to your company to do a different job, workers' compensation will pay for any training that you may need in order to successfully learn the tasks that you will need to accomplish

Permanent Impairment Benefits - if you receive an impairment that is never going to go away, you will receive benefits from workers' compensation to pay you for not being able to use this part of your body

Contact a company like The Law Firm of Fitzgerald, Reese & Van Dyne, Co. for more information.