Employers are required to provide their employees with a safe work environment to work under. There are safety measures that every employer must put in place as well as precautions that employees are required to follow. Employers are expected to constantly improve safety at the workplace. In case of injuries, employers are required to provide their workers with a suitable health insurance and accident coverage. This is best achieved through workers compensation advocacy. Workers compensation is a type of cover that provides both medical and wage replacement benefits to eligible workers.
When an eligible worker is injured at the workplace, workers comp insurance will offer guaranteed medical benefits. All essential medical procedures or treatment the worker receives will be covered by the insurer. The injuries must be related to the work accident. To get this benefit, however, workers must report the injury to the employer within 30 days. If the claim is approved, the insurer will pay temporary income benefits at the rate of around 70% of average weekly wages to the injured worker if they have to stay out of work for over one week.
Workers Comp Benefits
Workers comp also offers long-term disability benefits, so if you are permanently disabled, workers comp will pay long-term income benefits to you for the rest of your life if you are not able to return to work due to permanent disability.
It is important to note that workers comp claims can be rejected for one reason or another. For starters, if you file after 30 days, the claim will be denied. If the injury is not related to your duties at work, you will also not be covered. For instance, if you are injured while running around the workplace and making fun of a colleague, you will not be covered. Similarly, if the injury is intentional or self-inflicted, you will not be covered by workers comp. When filing a claim, supporting documentation must be attached. If everything is in order, you can expect your claim to be approved on a first come first served basis.
Please note that any pre-existing condition or unrelated illness/injury will not be covered by workers comp. For instance, if you have a tumor that can be removed while treating head injuries sustained at work, the cost of extracting the tumor will not be settled by the insurer.
If your claim is rejected or delayed, you have to hire a competent lawyer to offer legal representation. The lawyer can look at the reasons for the denial, gather the necessary evidence and help you file an appeal. It is also recommended you hire a workers compensation advocate if you are receiving less benefits than what you are entitled to. After all, you may be forced to undergo treatment at a mediocre medical facility. The temporary income benefits you get may also be less than expected. Having a competent lawyer by your side will go a long way in ensuring you get the best possible outcomes. Only lawyers who have specialized in workers compensation advocacy and have a lot of experience in the industry should be considered.
