An injury sustained while working can be a frightening prospect for many people. Depending on the severity of issues, they could face hospital stays, therapy, medical expenses, and time away from work. A compensation claim usually covers several key areas and is designed to mitigate some of these problems.
Medical Expenses
If a person is unlucky enough to be injured seriously at their place of work, it is a safe bet that there will be some medical costs involved to treat the problems. Most compensation claims lay out just how they deal with any medical bills, and you can check a coverage plan to see how those expenses get to the provider for payment. The precise nature of medical expenses might vary, but plans usually include provisions for visits to the emergency room, surgery, or prescriptions that you need to fill.
Lost Wages
If your injury or illness is serious enough that you can’t work, you might be looking at several days or even weeks off in order to recover. In most cases, the average worker cannot afford to use savings to cover their living expenses if this arrangement continues. Compensation insurance can step in and pay at least a portion of the wages a person would have received if they weren’t forced to take time off. A qualified workers’ compensation attorney can help you navigate the legalese of this and any other part of your policy.
Continued Care
Your injury might be bad enough to warrant some time off work to recover, but maybe it is something that only required one visit with a medical professional. What if your problem was severe enough that you needed ongoing care? If you injure your back, a doctor might recommend that you make multiple visits to a physical therapist in order to treat the injury and keep tabs on things. A workers’ comp claim can offer provisions that help to defray the costs of multiple visits.
Disability Benefits
In the unfortunate event that you become partially disabled due to an injury at work, filing a compensation claim could help you get back some wages and pay for supportive medical treatments you might need in order to restore function or adapt to a new situation. Disability benefits work a bit differently than other parts of the claim. After an examination, there may be a determination that you cannot return to work or may need accommodations if you do. You might need to file for long-term disability later, and your attorney can offer advice on this process.
Getting injured on the job can have some long-term ramifications for workers and how they might function going forward. Although compensation claims can’t always mitigate every factor here, they can take some of the stress and uncertainty away from people during the recovery phase. It is important to remember that most states require employers to carry this kind of insurance, but the rules can vary from one state to the next.
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.
