Workers Compensation Benefits For Work Related Injuries

By Steve Bingman -

If you have suffered work related injuries, you are probably entitled to workers compensation. I say “probably” because most states allow employers that have fewer than 2 or 3 employees to not have workers compensation. Assuming that your employer does have workers comp insurance, then just what benefits are you entitled to for work related injuries?

There are 3 classifications for the benefits.

1. Medical Treatment

Employers that are required to provide workers compensation are required to pay all medical bills for treatment of work related injuries. But, and this can be a big but, employers have the right to tell employees to go to certain medical providers and, in most cases, the employer only has to pay the medical providers that it has selected. If you want to go to your own doctor instead of the doctor selected by your employer, you will have to pay your doctor yourself.

2. Lost Wages

When an employee misses work due to work related injuries, the employee may be entitled to lost wages. Generally, the amount paid for lost wages is a portion (2/3 or 3/4) of the employees normal wages. In most cases, this amount is OK because workers comp benefits are not taxable. Most states have some qualification for receiving lost wages such as requiring that employees miss a certain amount of work before the employee is entitled to lost wages.

If a doctor tells you that you can perform light work and your employer has light work for you, then you must perform the light work. If you cannot perform your normal job and refuse to perform the light work that your employer has for you, then you will not be entitled to lost wages.

3. Other Benefits

Employees who suffer work related injuries may also be entitled to other benefits such as compensation of disfigurement, vocational rehabilitation, and permanent disability.

If you have a scar or some other form of disfigurement that results from a work related injury, then you are entitled to compensation.

If you can no longer perform your previous line of work because of your injuries, you are entitled to vocational rehabilitation that will either allow you to perform your line of work or to learn a new line of work.

If your injuries prevent you from working in the future, then you are entitled to compensation for total disability and to receive future medical care for your injuries.

This is general information only. If you have any questions whatsoever about workers compensation, talk with a lawyer licensed in your state.

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