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What To Expect From Workers Compensation

If you have been injured from a job-related accident, you are likely not only suffering from the incident, but are also wondering if you will be able to work again and provide for yourself and your family. Being injured while at work means that you are protected by workers compensation, which will pay for medical care and other expenses. Your employer pays for the workers comp insurance and this benefit is available at no cost to you. The benefits available vary depending on the severity of the injury. Read on for a summary of what benefits you could receive.

1.  Weekly Compensation

Each state has rules that determine the amount and length for your weekly compensation. The key factor is how your disability is classified.

Temporary means that you are expected to fully recover at some point.

Permanent means that you have reached the maximum medical improvement (MMI) that can be expected from your injury.  Permanent impairment means that a major part of your body no longer works as before the accident, such a your hand or back. This amount is normally a paid lump sum, so be very cautious about accepting the offered amount without considering the full impact of a lifetime spent disabled.

Total disability means that you are not able to do any type of work.  The amount paid is normally a certain percentage of your pre-injury wages and most states have caps on the maximum you can receive.

Partial disability means that you can do a certain percentage of work like you did before your injury. This could mean part-time work or lighter duties. The weekly benefit amount is determined by calculating the percentage of disability and paying the resulting percentage of your pre-injury wage. For example, if you are determined to be 20% disabled, your weekly compensation would be 20% of your weekly salary.

2.  Medical Expenses

All medical expenses should be paid through workers compensation, no matter how long after the event. If you have a problem with getting your medical payments, contact a workers compensation lawyer attorney for assistance.  Medical bill collectors can ruin your credit, so don't delay in taking action.

3.  Vocational Rehabilitation

Nearly every state requires that you be retrained for other work if you are unable to return to your old position.

After reading the above information, you should be able to tell whether or not the workers compensation is making your full benefits available. Contact an attorney who will be able to advocate on your behalf to make sure that you are being fairly and completely compensated for your injuries.