When you suffer an injury at your workplace or get sick from a work-related cause and cannot continue working, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The benefits are meant to reduce the financial impact of your injury or sickness as you recover.
Workers’ compensation benefits apply only to a certain extent. For instance, you cannot recover benefits for the emotional pain and suffering caused by your workplace injury or sickness. However, it is possible to recover the benefits listed below.
Medical benefits
Workers’ compensation provides medical coverage that covers the cost of treatment related to workplace injury. Medical benefits meet the cost of medication, nursing care and even medical equipment like walkers and wheelchairs.
Income benefits
If your injuries are incapacitating and you have to be off work for at least a week, workers’ compensation will pay you a portion of your missed wages until you resume your job. Income benefits can be temporary or permanent depending on the extent of your injuries.
Death benefits
In the event of death after a workplace injury, your close family members are entitled to death benefits. These cover burial expenses up to a certain amount. Like lost wages, your beneficiaries will get a portion of the wages you should have earned.
The current rate is 70% of your average weekly pay, which your dependents will receive until they are no longer eligible.
Making the most of your workers’ compensation claim
It is necessary to learn more about how everything works to get full compensation after a workplace injury. For example, it is possible to receive workers’ compensation benefits and still pursue damages from a third party responsible for your injuries. In such a case, it may be possible to obtain compensation for damages like pain and suffering that are not covered under workers’ compensation.
Given that the legal process can sometimes get complicated, it may be advisable to seek legal assistance when handling your case to help ensure you get what you deserve.