What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Can I Receive for a Work Injury?
Sustaining work-related injuries or illnesses can lead to financial difficulties. You will have to pay significantly for medical treatment, and there’s the additional worry about your lost wages.
Thankfully, you may claim workers’ compensation benefits and enjoy financial help if you sustain a work-related injury. And you may claim any of the four compensation types, depending on your situation.
4 Workers’ Compensation Benefits Types You Deserve After an Injury
1. Medical Benefits
You should receive immediate and long-term medical coverage for your workplace injury or illness, like:
- Medical check-up
- Treatment, therapies, and rehabilitation
- Medications
- Laboratory tests
- Reimbursement for transportation to and from medical appointments
- Medical aids like wheelchairs and crutches
The thing is that you should secure enough evidence to prove your medical needs like:
- Medical report
- Diagnosis
- Medical bills
2. Disability Benefits
You are entitled to receive disability benefits as lost wage coverage if your work-related injury stops you from working full-time.
However, the compensation amount depends on whether you suffer from:
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Temporary or Permanent Disability
You may claim permanent disability benefits if your injury results in a severe physical or psychological limitation that will last for a lifetime. An example is when you sustain severe paralysis because of a work-related spinal injury.
In this case, you may receive regular financial help throughout your life.
On the other hand, temporary disabilities are conditions that only last for a few days, weeks, or months. It means you may receive benefits only for a particular time frame until you recover.
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Total or Partial Disability
Your condition will also be categorized depending on the extent of your disability which affects the benefits you regularly receive.
You will get a total disability rating if you have severe physical or psychological limitations. An example is when you lost both arms, which entitles you to receive two-thirds of the income before sustaining the injury.
You will get a partial disability rating if you can still function and complete some tasks, despite the disability. The amount you will receive depends on the income with limited functionality.
Consult a workers’ compensation attorney in Glendale for accurate disability benefits calculations.
3. Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits
Your injury may make you unable to return to your previous job. Thus, you may want to find another job that suits your limitations. That’s when vocational rehabilitation helps.
This compensation type revolves around helping you find a new job through retraining. You will receive a specific amount to cover your training course and learning materials. And you will get enough assistance to find a new job.
4. Death Benefits
Your loved one may claim death benefits if the injury results in your death. It will cover burial and funeral expenses and some losses that the deceased family may experience.
The amount depends on the number of dependants or people who economically relied on you before death. And the dependants will have to divide the amount amongst themselves equally.
Filing a Personal Injury Case
You may also file a separate personal injury lawsuit in addition to your workers’ compensation claim. However, to do this, there must be a liable third-party person or entity for your injury.
For example, you may have gotten injured while using a faulty machine. In this case, you may claim workers’ compensation from your boss while filing a personal injury lawsuit against the machine manufacturer.
Call a Glendale Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to Maximize Your Benefits
Knowing the compensation you deserve is crucial after sustaining a work-related injury. And knowing the points mentioned above helps you while making a claim.
Also, hiring a workers’ compensation attorney in Glendale helps optimize your case.