Work related accidents have become increasingly more common over the years for a variety of reasons. These accidents are especially common in industries involving construction sites. While these injuries can be severe and traumatizing, companies have workers’ compensation insurance in place to help you through your hard time. There are various types of workers’ compensation programs that will ensure that your damages are recovered and your rights are protected.
Workers’ compensation programs are tailored to meet the needs of many of the accidental situations an employee may encounter. Benefits provided include medical coverage, rehabilitation expenses and disability coverage. The type of coverage an individual receives depends upon a variety of factors that differ from one workers’ compensation claim to another.
Medical coverage
Perhaps the most important aspect of workers’ compensation benefits is that of medical coverage. While the specifics of such medical coverage vary depending on the state you are in, as well as the doctor you are seeing, the medical benefits that an individual receives from workers’ compensation includes hospital and medical expenses. Medical coverage is necessary to identify and treat your illness or injury, regardless of your location.
Most medical benefits through this program include doctors’ visits, surgeries and any necessary medications. Additional coverage that may be included depending on your state includes pain therapy, acupuncture, counselling and equipment needed for long term care such as wheel chairs.
Rehabilitation benefits
Benefits regarding rehabilitation include therapeutic care, such as physical therapy. Rehabilitative services covered by workers’ compensation aim to help you deal with your recovery process. Rehabilitation services also cover any training necessary for regaining strength or abilities hindered by your illness or injury.
In the event that your injury or illness prevents you from returning to work, your workers’ compensation rehabilitative services may also cover additional expenses to help you become proficient in a new job, such as training or school tuition.
Disability services
The goal of disability services through workers’ compensation is to compensate you for any wages lost due to your illness or injury. Disability services are split into categories depending on the type and duration of your ailment. For example, temporary disability allows you to be out of work but only for a short period of time. Temporary partial disability states that there are aspects of your job that you can’t do, but only for a short period of time; light duty can be an example of this.
Permanent total disability states that you cannot work, nor can you ever return to your job or a job similar to yours. Finally, permanent partial disability means that your injury or illness is permanent, but only prevents you from doing certain aspects of your job. If your injury or illness falls under one of these categories, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation disability services.
Another benefit offered by workers’ compensation is a death benefit. This program is provided by most states to the relatives of a deceased worker whose income the family was dependent upon. Services covered by workers’ compensation benefits, depending on your state, may include funeral and burial expenses, as well as calculated percentages of the deceased employee’s earnings to keep the family afloat.
In some states, certain family relationship situations may cause problems with regard to receiving death benefits. For this reason, should a work related death occur, it is important to hire a construction accident lawyer immediately.
Contact Jacoby & Meyers, LLP
If you or someone you know has been injured in a work related accident and needs to file a workers’ compensation claim, contact the construction accident attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP today. Our lawyers will make sure that all of your needs and expectations are met, while maximizing compensation owed to you by your workers’ compensation insurance.
Contact an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer to help you understand the legal process for seeking to recover your expenses through a personal injury lawsuit.