Workers’ compensation benefits are provided to those who are injured on the job in an attempt to provide for lost income, medical expenses, and other related costs. To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, certain criteria must be met and actions must be performed.

Injuries covered by Workers’ Compensation

The most difficult part of obtaining workers’ compensation benefits may simply be that you must have received an injury/illness (which will be simply referred to as an injury for the remainder of this article) as a direct result of your employment.

A covered injury is not simply any injury that just happened to occur while you were at work. For example, catching the flu from your coworkers or receiving a paper cut while putting away files are not considered covered injuries. These are considered injuries that could happen to anyone on any given day.
Rather, the injury must be directly related to your job responsibilities. For example, the following would be considered typical workers’ compensation injuries:

- Lifting heavy equipment that results in a back injury
- Slipping on a wet surface that results in a broken leg
- Working with a computer that results in carpal tunnel syndrome

Notify your employer of your work injury

You must tell your employer that you were injured and the details as to how the injury happened. If you do not inform your employer of the injury in a timely manner—typically with 30 days for an injury or 2 years for a disease—you may lose your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits stemming from the injury.

Before you notify your employer that you have been injured, please seek medical attention. It is acceptable and expected that you will seek medical attention immediately when you are injured at work. Obtaining medical attention to address your injury will not hamper your ability to obtain workers’ compensation benefits for your injury.

Complete claim for workers’ compensation

You must complete an Employee Claim Form (C-3) and submit it to the Workers’ Compensation Board. This form must be submitted to the Board within two years of your injury or you may lose your right to obtain workers’ compensation benefits.

Take steps to recover from your work injury

The process for your recovery and return to work (assuming you are not permanently disabled) will vary depending on the nature of your injury. In general, you should follow the advice and treatment prescribed by your doctor to address your injury. In addition, you should attend any investigative meetings where you are asked to appear related to fully understanding the cause of your injury.

Should I hire a work comp attorney if I am injured on the job?

Yes, if you have been injured on the job, it is in your best interest to speak with a workers’ compensation attorney to be sure you receive what is rightfully yours. While insurance companies may appear to be willing to compensate you for your injuries and related expenses, remember that it is in the insurance company’s best interest to pay as little money as is possible. Therefore, having a workers’ compensation attorney review your case to be sure you are receiving all the benefits to which you are entitled is simply the smart thing to do.
If you complete the short form below, a workers’ compensation attorney will review your case free of charge. This review is completely confidential and does not obligate you to anything further. So please get help today to be sure you get the help you need to receive your full workers’ compensation benefit.

If you have been injured at work, you may have heard that you are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. What exactly is workers’ compensation and what does it mean to you?

Workers’ compensation is an insurance program that each state requires employers to maintain. This insurance provides, in the event you are injured or contract an illness as the result of your job, money to replace your lost wages and pay for your medical expenses related to care of and recovery from your injuries.

As each state can define their workers’ compensation insurance programs, the specific benefits provided by workers’ compensation vary on a state-by-state basis. However, in general, the following benefits are provided by workers’ compensation.

Workers Compensation replaces Wages

While you are unable to work, workers’ compensation provides pay in place of your regular paycheck. The amount of this pay is calculated as a percentage of your salary or hourly wage you were earning before you were injured. While this percentage ranges widely depending on the state where you live, it is generally no more than about two-thirds of your actual pay. This is in part because disability pay from workers’ compensation is not subject to income tax, so the difference in the amount you take home is not as wide of a range as it first may appear.

The length of time workers’ compensation provides you a paycheck varies based on the circumstances and the state where you live, but if you are permanently disabled as a result of the injury or illness and you cannot return to work, workers’ compensation may provide permanent disability payments or a lump sum settlement.

Workers Compensation provides Medical Expenses

Workers’ compensation covers the cost of various medical expenses, such as doctor visits, surgeries, and medications related to the treatment of your injury or illness. This treatment can include any rehabilitation you need as well, such as physical therapy, so that you can function day-to-day as you could before the incident. Medical expenses also include non-medical related costs indirectly tied to your medical treatment, such as the cost of travel to your doctor appointments.

Workers Compensation may provide Training for a New Job

If as a result of your injury or illness you cannot return to the job you performed previously, workers’ compensation will pay for training you in a new skill set so that you can perform another job.

In exchange for these benefits, injured individuals generally waive their right to sue the company where they were injured. But as noted above, as workers’ compensation benefits vary for each state, you should confirm the specific workers’ compensation benefits provided in your state and what steps you need to take to obtain them.

Compensation Attorneys and Workers Compensation

Workers’ compensation attorneys are specifically trained and experienced in dealing with workers’ compensation claims. They will know the specific workers’ compensation laws in your state and the benefits they provide, so they can make sure you obtain was is rightfully yours if you have been injured or made ill as a result of your job.

By completing the short form below, a workers’ compensation attorney can review your case and give you an initial evaluation on if you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. This review is free of charge, 100% confidential, and does not obligate you to anything further. Therefore, please take advantage of this opportunity today to find out if you are in line to receive workers’ compensation benefits for your injury or illness.