After being hurt on the job, workers compensation is usually the first official compensation offered. It can help, but you can't know the full extent of your condition or any complications until an extensive examination is done--and even then, doctors can be wrong. Before taking the first compensation offered, consider a few of these options and details for injured workers.
Workers Compensation Is Not Set In Stone
What many workers incorrectly assume is that workers compensation delivers the same type of compensation for any injury. The usual claim is covering related medical bills and a percentage of pay, depending on what state you work in.
This is only partially true. Those are the basic policies around workers compensation, and it works for employees who just need a few days or few weeks to recover from injuries. A sprained ankle, broken leg, or burn may recover without major incident, and instead of drawing out legal processes and stressing out the worker, those standard procedures of compensation are activated.
What if you can't afford only a percentage of your pay? Not all injured workers can simply relax during their bed rest like some sort of paid vacation. If your normal paycheck is barely making ends meet or not good enough at all, a lower percentage is even worse.
You don't have to settle for a percentage. It isn't even a complex legal matter to tackle as long as you contact a workers compensation attorney as soon as possible. Don't waste time explaining your situation, asking other employees, or worrying about what might happen, because unless you're an attorney, you don't understand even part of the system. Let the workers compensation attorney get an increased rate for you, then spend your time figuring out what else you could be owed.
What Caused The Injury? They Could Be Liable
Not all workplace injuries are perfect accidents with no one at fault. Did another employee cause the accident? Was it because of workplace equipment or safety equipment malfunction, and is that the responsibility of your workplace or are the vendors and manufacturers at fall?
That's a lot of people to consider suing.
It isn't all negative for you or even for your company, and making these legal challenges could save lives. If there's a problem at your workplace, attention needs to be brought to the issue in a way that ensures it won't happen again—and no, your injury isn't necessarily enough to solve the problem.
Your workplace may not have all the information or even the spare time to research the problem, but since you're on bed rest or at least working at lower capacity, you have the extra time to pursue the companies who make your work equipment or safety equipment. Your company could get in on it, and you'll have the opportunity to get more compensation while keeping other employees safer.
Don't delay. Contact a workers compensation attorney at a law firm like The Reed Noble Law Firm PLLC and discuss every angle of your injury to figure out what you may be owed.
