Workers’ compensation is a vital system providing financial support to a person who is injured or ill at work. It ensures that the workers get proper medical and financial assistance while recovering. This is an efficient system that helps not only the employees but also the employers, as it is a structure set up that is the norm for managing any workplace injuries or illnesses.
Before we talk about workers’ compensation claim duration, let’s take a look at the benefits an injured worker can get.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Suppose a worker gets injured or ill at work. In that case, they can claim certain types of compensation. Here are the two conditions for which you can claim compensation.
Temporary Disability
Workers can claim compensation if they get injured or fall ill in their workplace, which makes them unable to work for a certain amount of time. If a worker has Temporary Total Disability (TTD), they are paid the compensation and can return back to work once they have recovered. In some states, they have Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) compensation for workers who return back to work with less than pre-injury wages.
Permanent Disability
A worker can claim compensation if they get injured or fall ill in their workplace and the condition has a permanent impact on the victim. Permanent Total Disability (PTD) compensates workers who cannot return to work because of an injury, and Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) compensates workers who have permanent impairments but do not hinder their work.
Factors that Influence the Duration of Workers’ Compensation Benefits
The duration of a workers’ compensation claim depends on numerous factors. Let’s take a look at them.
Nature and Severity
The nature and severity of a worker’s injury or illness play a major role in determining compensation. Minor injuries like cuts and sprains will receive less compensation than severe injuries like fractures and amputations.
Medical Treatment and Recovery
Claiming compensation requires proper medical reports. These reports can also help determine the amount of compensation by giving an idea of how much treatment the worker might need and how long it will take for them to recover.
State and Local Regulations
Though workers’ compensation benefits exist in all states in the United States, the exact components might differ from state to state. Victims are advised to also look into state laws so that they are aware of their rights.
Employment Status and Return to Work
Another major factor determining the duration of compensation that a victim receives is if, after the injury, they can return to work. Depending on their capability to work in the future, that is;
If they can recover and come back to their old job
If they can come to the same employer but in a different job
If their injury is permanent but they can still work
If they cannot work at the same job
If they can never work again
Worker’s Pre-existing Health Condition
Accurate documentation of the victim’s medical history is essential to determine if any injury or illness they sustained at their workplace is rooted in any medical condition that was worsened because of the job. Doing so will help to adequately calculate and compensate for the injury.
Employer and Insurance Policies
Insurance companies and employers might have their own legal processes that they must follow, which might take time. It is advisable that victims wait for compensation and not interfere with these processes.
Conclusion
Both employees and employers must be well-informed about workers’ compensation benefits to ensure a safe working environment. If a person is injured or falls ill at their workplace, they should contact workers’ compensation lawyers so they can get fair compensation and help them take legal action in case they are required.
