Make Sure All Of Your Injury Options Are Open
Posted on: 26 October 2016
After being injured at work, workers compensation may seem like an easy, logical way to get the support you need. Workers compensation exists as a safety net for workers to recover without losing their pay through no fault of their own, but it doesn't cover all of your compensation needs in every situation. To understand what workers compensation has to offer and what you can do to explore your other options, here's a few workplace injury compensation scenarios.
What Does Workers Compensation Cover?
The exact percentages are different in each state, but workers compensation covers a percentage of your weekly paycheck. You can find an example in California's average weekly pay chart, which was $1,172.57 in 2017. The amount is subject to change depending on if your partially or permanently disabled (temporary or not), but these rates are merely the default decision.
Workers compensation standard rates are helpful because not every case is a long courtroom or conference room-filled ordeal. If injured workers just need a quick in and out of hospital stay or bed rest, it's helpful. It's just not wise to assume that this is your situation.
Before signing anything, contact a workers compensation lawyer to have your situation evaluated. You may require more compensation due to your unique situation, such as already being near or below the poverty line or unable to sustain a reasonable way of life on the limited pay scale.
It's also hard to know if your injuries are truly healed after your medical rest period. Although a doctor may discharge you from medical care and clear you for work, there may be residual pain, mobility issues, or side effects from the incident that went unnoticed by all but you. The lingering problems may even be hidden until something exacerbates them later, but a lawyer by your side can make sure that the proper paperwork is being prepared to seek more benefits. It's better than you trying to fight the system with a limp and difficulties at work.
Personal Injury Or Other, Older Causes
Being injured on the job may uncover other potential problems that have little or nothing to do with your lawyer. In cases where your employer isn't directly at fault, but you were still injured at work, the law might get a bit murky. Leave it to a lawyer to make the right moves, but here's what you can consider as personal injury cases.
If you were injured by a non-employee while at work, it could be an accident that the other person needs to be take care of. This is especially helpful in your case if the person had no business on the premises. If the person was a customer, it could be considered an occupational hazard, but that's no reason for you to avoid taking legal action.
Your business's reputation matters, but there's no way of proving how long you'll belong—or matter—to the company. Keep your business in the loop with a lawyer's advice and stay amicable unless there's a reason to cut ties, but take care of yourself first.
Are you sure that the injury is entirely work related? If you were weakened because of a previous injury that lead to your workplace injury, consider using that as proof for taking legal action against an older issue.
You need to be careful with this, as it may forfeit your workers compensation claim's opportunities. It's hard to say if you should have been doing your job with such injuries, but you can plan multiple options with a lawyer. Contact a workers compensation lawyer for a benefits consultation.
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