Workers Compensation - Things to Know

Work laws have been created to guarantee that employees who have been disabled or injured on the job are provided with permanent or fixed monetary awards, making litigation unnecessary. Unfortunately however, companies and private employers sometimes undermine these laws and refuse to pay an adequate amount of money to those employees who can no longer work due to injuries incurred while at work. In some instances, legitimate workers compensation claims get denied by aggressive insurance companies. A carrier may claim that you haven't been injured, or that the injury you suffered wasn’t serious enough to qualify for workers' compensation benefits. If this occurs, you may stand to lose critical benefits, such as job retraining, medical care coverage, and other financial help.

Almost everyone knows that they may be entitled to workers compensation benefits if they become injured on the job. But, many people do not know that when a worker is seriously hurt on the job, there is often more than one available source of recovery. Workers compensation attorneys will always look to potential third parties for recovery, in addition to the employer. An additional source of compensation often involves a claim based on products liability such as those involving:

• Scaffolding failure




• Machine guard/ grinding accidents




• Construction site accidents




• Forklift accidents




• Conveyor belt accidents




• Printing press accidents




• Other machinery related accidents

If you are injured on the job, make sure that you know what kind of benefits you are entitled to. Many times, the insurance carrier will move quickly to contact you and begin to make medical payments and lost time payments. Injured workers often incorrectly assume that the insurance company is on their side and that they are receiving all of the benefits for which they are entitled. Unfortunately, many times, the insurance company withholds some of the most important benefits and the injured worker never learns what he or she failed to receive.

You have the right to a safe place of work. The workers compensation lawyers can help you determine which benefits you are entitled to. Workers’ compensation covers your on the job injury including:

• Orthopedic injuries




• Neurological problems




• Carpal tunnel syndrome




• Fractured bones




• Post-traumatic stress syndrome




• Closed-head injuries




• Exposures to asbestos, mold, lead, or other chemicals

Workers compensation injuries can be severe and in some circumstances fatal. When not fatal, they may still significantly affect the quality of life. Rehabilitation can also be a painful, long ordeal, with expensive health care costs and treatment that can last a lifetime. If you or a family member has suffered a workers compensation injury, we urge you to contact a workers compensation lawyer.

Your workers compensation attorney will always endeavor to keep you fully informed and up-to-date on how your case is progressing and respond promptly to all of your calls.