With 917,100 workplace … related injuries and illnesses resulting in missed days at work in 2013, it’s easier to get hurt at work than you’d think. That same year, occupational injuries alone caused American men and women to miss an average of 8 days of work. Not only do these missed days result in lost money for employees; they can also endanger your position. Many have lost their jobs or been demoted due to days missed because of workplace injuries. Luckily, if this has happened to you, you’re not alone.
Who Is Eligible For Workers’ Compensation?
Anyone who gets hurt at work is eligible for workers’ compensation. It’s more common than you’d think … although many figure that construction workers are getting hurt on the job, nurse’s assistants and orderlies suffer about 3 times the amount of back and other musculoskeletal injuries.
What To Do If You Get Hurt At Work
If you get hurt at work, in an ideal world you should be paid for each day off and properly compensated for your hospital bills. Sometimes, it takes a while for you to be reimbursed for certain expenses. You should at this time keep careful records of exactly what happened, how many days were missed, how many expenses were incurred and for what, and how your employer behaved.
When Do You Need A Workmans Comp Lawyer?
If you end up feeling inadequately compensated or are mistreated or even fired due to your workplace injury, it’s time to call a worker compensation lawyer. Workers’ compensation should, for the record, pay 100% of your medical costs and pay cash benefits for lost work time after a three to seven day waiting period. Should these compensation or benefits not come to pass, an attorney can help you with your workers compensation claim.
Why Hire A Workers Compensation Lawyer?
Many people who get hurt at work are reluctant or nervous about hiring a workers compensation attorney. However, compensation and benefits are extremely difficult to get without legal assistance once they’ve already been denied. Furthermore, if you don’t get that compensation you can be saddled with medical bills related to injuries that are legally the fault of your employer. At heart, the issue is: why should you pay for something that you don’t have to?
How Can Workers’ Compensation Help Me?
Getting hurt on the job can result in extremely high medical bills, and workers’ compensation benefits may end up being very lucrative. In 2014, workers’ benefit payments totaled $60.2 billion, and 3.4% rise from $58.2 billion in 2010. Don’t think that your injury was too minor or that you should just “get over it”. You deserve what’s owed to you as much as anybody!