Worker’s Compensation- Albuquerque

New Mexico Worker’s Compensation Administration regulates workers compensation between employers and injured employee’s. Workers compensation was created as a no-fault insurance policy to protect injured workers who suffer an injury at work. Workman’s compensation was created to eliminate the need for expensive tort litigation.

Workman’s comp provides medical benefits and wage compensation to injured employees without the employee having to prove their work injury was the result of their employer’s negligence, but in return, the worker forfeits some of the monetary compensation they may have received if they had won a personal injury lawsuit.

Worker’s compensation or workman’s compensation is only paid to workers who suffer a work injury while they are performing their normal job functions. Work injuries which are caused by an employee’s intentional actions or from drug or alcohol intoxication may not be covered. Work injuries which may be covered by work injury compensation can include:

• Back and neck injuries
• Abrasions and burns
• Amputations of arms or legs
• Concussions
• Heart attack or strokes on the job
• Carpel Tunnel
• Diseases caused by inhalation of chemicals or other toxins

Albuquerque Worker’s Compensation Benefits

Almost all New Mexico employers are required by workers compensation law to carry workers comp insurance for their employees. Workman’s compensation provides several work injury compensation benefits to workers who suffer an injury at work.

• Medical benefits – Albuquerque work compensation insurance pays 100% of authorized medical costs for work injuries or occupational diseases. Medical services which are covered may include: hospital stays, doctor’s services, medications and laboratory services. Medical benefits are offered to the employee without monetary or time limits.
• Temporary Total Disability Benefits – Workers compensation temporary total disability are paid to workers who sustain an injury at work, and the amount paid is based on a percentage of the injured worker’s wage. Disability payments can continue for the duration of the disability.
• Permanent Partial Disability – New Mexico workers comp benefits allow for permanent disability payments to be made for 500- 700 weeks. The payment amount is based on a percentage of the worker’s wage. Additional benefits may be paid to employees if their work injury causes a permanent disfigurement.
• Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits – Workers who sustain an injury at work and are unable to return to their current job may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services.
• Death Benefits – Death benefits may be paid to the deceased worker’s spouse and/or children. The amount of work injury compensation paid to dependents will be based on the deceased employee’s wages subject to a maximum. Benefits are also paid to cover burial expenses.

Do I Need an Albuquerque Worker’s Compensation Attorney?

Albuquerque workers who are disabled from a work injury do not have to hire a work injury attorney to help them file their work compensation claim, but employers will have their own workers compensation attorneys working for them and unfortunately, in efforts to save costs, they may not always have the best interest of their employees in mind.

Albuquerque work comp lawyers can also help an injured employee if their work compensation is denied, if the work injury is caused by a defective third party product or if the employee has been the victim of workplace discrimination or harassment.