ON THE JOB ACCIDENTS
When you consider the significant amount of time that an American adult spends at work, it is not surprising that on-the-job accidents are a relatively common occurrence for workers of all kinds. Whether you work at a desk in an office, or as a dealer in a casino, or on a construction site, you are continually in danger of being injured in a workplace accident. It is critical to remember that you could be entitled to workers’ compensation for work-related injuries, even those that you may have caused unintentionally.
The workers’ compensation system covers employees for all occupational-related illnesses and injuries. This includes harm or injury caused by work-related accidents, regardless of who is at fault. Workers’ comp is a no-fault system, so injured workers do not need to prove that their employer or another worker was to blame for an accident to recover benefits. For the injured employee to be eligible to collect benefits, the injury need only be work-related. Examples of some work accidents that may be covered by workers’ comp include the following:
- Falls from heights
- Word-related motor vehicle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Scaffolding and ladder accidents
- Industrial accidents
- Construction accidents
- Electric shock and electrocution
These are just a few of the possibilities of accidents that can be covered by workers’ compensation. However, there may be some exceptions to the no-fault principle described in workers’ compensation claims. These can include injury cases where a worker harmed himself or herself intentionally or was under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol and caused the accident.
Workers Compensation Benefits for an On the Job Accident
An injured employee may be compensated for the cost of medical care. A worker may also be entitled to cash benefits for lost wages if the injury happened in the workplace. The amount granted depends on the extent and severity of the injuries and whether the individual suffers a temporary, permanent, partial, or total disability. Therefore:
- The worker might be able to receive benefits for the duration of the disability
- The worker might be entitled to a settlement
- The worker might be entitled to regular payments for the remainder of his or her life
Cash benefits paid for work-related injuries aim to compensate employees for lost earnings while they are disabled and unable to work. These benefits may not exceed a portion of a worker’s average weekly wage, up to a maximum amount set forth by law.
Seeking Legal Counsel in a Workers Compensation Incident
A worker’s compensation claim may seem reasonably straightforward, particularly when you consider that it is a no-fault system. Workers are spared the often challenging task of proving employer wrongdoing or negligence and are entitled to benefits as long as their injury happened at work and in the line of duty. However, this does not necessarily mean that the claims process is an easy task to navigate without legal guidance. A workers’ compensation attorney can offer legal representation during the process and protect the rights of injured workers.