WORKERS COMPENSATION BLOG

Workers Compensation Attorney

If you or a loved one suffered an on-the-job injury, you might have a right to compensation for your lost wages and medical expenses. In the United States, the majority of employers are required to provide workers’ compensation coverage for their employees, but workers’ compensation coverage doesn’t extend to all injuries. Workers’ comp only offers coverage for injuries associated with your job. If you think you may be entitled to compensation for a work-related injury, a workers’ comp lawyer can help you understand your legal options through a workers’ comp claim or lawsuit.

Workers’ compensation may not cover some specific injuries. While it covers most workplace injuries, some accidents are excluded from this coverage. This includes injuries that are intentionally self-inflicted and injuries that resulted from any action that violates the employer’s company policy, such as being under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs. Workers’ compensation does not cover a self-inflicted injury. 

For instance, a worker cannot start a fight with a co-worker and then collect compensation for his or her injuries. This action constitutes self-inflicted harm. Additionally, you cannot receive workers’ compensation benefits if you injury happened while you were breaking company policy. Even if the act was not a crime, it is still not eligible for coverage under workers’ compensation insurance. Furthermore, if your employer discovers that you were injured while committing a crime at work, you will not have the right to collect workers’ compensation benefits. Any illegal activities are not connected with your job duties, so are excluded from benefits.

Injuries That Occur at Work

To qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, your injury must happen on-the-job or be directly related to your work. For instance, an illness or disease might not happen at work but could still be related to your job.

Workers’ compensation benefits can cover things such as:

  • Medical treatments
  • Medical and surgical procedures
  • Hospitalization
  • Doctors’ visits
  • Prescriptions and medications
  • Disability expenses
  • Replacement of lost wages

Denial of a Workers Compensation Claim

Although a workers’ comp claim may seem reasonably straightforward. Indeed, workers’ compensation was developed to help people who were injured on-the-job or at their workplaces. This is an essential safety net that prevents injured employees and their families from struggling to pay their bills during the time that a worker is recovering from an injury. Unfortunately, legitimate claims are sometimes rejected. There are many reasons why a workers’ compensation claim might be denied, but all workers have a right to appeal should they feel the decision is incorrect. If you have had your claim denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. A workers’ comp attorney can help you with documenting your request and appealing unfavorable decisions.

You Should Get a Lawyer to Review Your Workers Compensation Case

If you think that perhaps your injury should be covered by workers’ compensation, you are encouraged to contact a workers’ compensation attorney. These legal professionals help their clients recover cash compensation from settlements and verdicts. They put their knowledge and experience to work for your claim and can help you obtain the maximum amount of payment you need and deserve.