An injured employee can recover compensation for injury-related medical bills and lost wages through their employer’s workers’ comp insurance. The amount of benefits they can get depends on the nature of the workplace accident, the injuries sustained, and the disability level. To make sure you get the benefits you deserve after suffering from a work-related injury, consult with an attorney who specializes in workers’ comp in Cedar Rapids. To determine the kinds of benefits you can get, here is a guide to help you:
Compensation for Medical Bills
Workers’ comp insurance allows injured employees to get payment or reimbursement for the injury-related medical treatment they require. The expenses include doctors’ appointments, medical treatments, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and prescriptions.
Compensation for Lost Wages
Workers who are injured on the job can get compensation for the wages they lost because of their injuries. The amount of compensation they can get depends on the seriousness of their injury and the amount they earned in the previous year. Compensation recovery is possible if the worker missed work for at least three days. Such benefits account for 80% of their average weekly earnings, not exceeding the maximum rate.
In addition, the injured worker can recover temporary partial disability benefits when they could not return to the same position they hold before their injury. Such benefits cover about 2/3 of the difference between their current and previous wages.
Compensation for Vocational Rehab
Injured workers can take advantage of vocational rehabilitation to help them return to work. Vocational rehab includes job training, job search assistance, and career counseling. If an injured worker can’t return to their former employment due to their injuries, their worker’s comp claim can include vocational rehab benefits.
Disability Benefits
Sometimes, an injured employee may get permanent partial disability benefits when they go through permanent disability due to their injuries. The benefit amount paid to them depends on the extent of their disability and its impact on the ability of the employee to work and their quality of life.
Compensation for Pain and Suffering
To seek damages for pain and suffering, an injured employee should file a civil lawsuit against a third party. Although they cannot sue their employer, they can file a lawsuit against an equipment manufacturer, property owner, or another contractor when their injuries resulted in the negligence of these parties.
Sometimes, fighting for workers’ comp can be time-consuming and complicated. There are many reasons claims can be denied and an attorney can assist an injured worker when this occurs.