When you are injured on the job you may certainly be eligible to make a work accident compensation claim. The amount of compensation that you receive will generally be determined by the severity of your injuries and how long you will need to be off work, if at all.
A work accident compensation claim will provide different types of payment to the injured worker. Medical costs as well as rehabilitation costs will almost always be covered. If a worker has been hurt severely there may also be loss of income payment.
Usually this payment is a percentage of the amount the worker made, not always the full amount. But in many locations, this payment may not be taxable. Usually the worker has to miss a certain number of days off work to trigger this benefit.
All of these details are determined by the workers compensation law of the jurisdiction that the injured person lives and works in.
If a worker is permanently disabled, in many cases there is a disability provision in the law for some sort of permanent benefit. In some places the worker who has sustained a permanent impairment because of the work injury may receive a one-time lump sum of money for their injury, often called an impairment payment.
This lump sum of money represents a settlement on the injury claim. Of course permanent impairment must be assessed and certified by medical professionals for the worker to file for this type of payment.
It is in the best interest of the worker who has been injured or even if not injured to understand the workers compensation laws in their area. So that if the situation arises, they understand their rights and obligations under the law.
If you already have been injured, you could discuss your questions and concerns with a personal injury lawyer. Although in some jurisdictions there is no recourse on employers other then the remedies through the workers compensation system unless malice and gross negligence can be proved.
There are law firms that specialize in worker compensation cases and in some areas the workers compensation administrator may be able to give you the names of these attorneys.
In most cases many of these law firms provide a free consultation to prospective clients. They can explain to the injured worker their entitlements under the law and apprise them of their options. Many time these work accident compensation claims can be very involved with a number of factors to investigate and consider.
The amount of your compensation will vary and depend on:
- How badly you were injured.
- Will you be able to recover or will you have permanent impairment.
- The jurisdiction that you live in.
- Other relevant factors.
When you have been injured and need to file a work accident compensation claim, it is always a good idea to understand your legal rights as it relates to the injuries that you sustained at work.
This article is not intended as legal, medical or insurance advice, it is for informational purposes only. Please seek the help of a legal, medical or insurance professional for the appropriate advice.