What You Need To Know About Worker's Compensation Payments
Despite the type of job you have, there is always the likelihood of suffering an injury while in the course of doing your work. Fortunately, most all companies are required to carry worker's compensation insurance. If you are injured at work while doing your job, you are entitled to benefits. Here are some things you should know about worker's compensation:
How Much Will You Get from Worker's Compensation?
One of the first questions you may have is how much you will receive for your worker's compensation claim. The answer is different for everyone and relies on a variety of factors. The type of accident you had, the type of injury you suffered, and how much time you are out of work are all things considered when calculating your benefits.
If your claim is valid, you can expect your medical treatments to be paid for. This can range from a regular doctor's visit to long-term hospitalization.
In addition, you will also get paid the wages you would have made if you had not been hurt while on the job. If your injuries are permanent and you will no longer be able to do your job, you will receive monthly payments to offset your living expenses. Depending on your circumstances, you could also get a lump sum payment.
Will You Get Pain and Suffering?
Pain and suffering is also a common topic with worker's compensation benefits. Although you may think major injuries warrant an additional payment for pain and suffering, the insurance does not include an additional payment structure for those cases.
The laws of worker's compensation insurance do not allow additional payments for pain and suffering. In addition, you are not allowed to sue your employer for pain and suffering while receiving worker's compensation benefits at the same time. By law, you are only allowed to receive the payments for your lost wages and payments for medical treatment.
If you believe you could receive more money with a lawsuit for pain and suffering, you have to discontinue your worker's compensation claim and take your case to court. However, doing so comes with many risks, the highest risk being the likelihood of you walking out of court with nothing. If your lawsuit is unsuccessful, pursuing worker's compensation can be quite difficult.
Although these are some of the most basic questions, you should discuss your case thoroughly with your workers compensation attorney to see which direction you should go with. If you believe you have a strong case against your employer, you could end up in a better position. Your attorney will look at the facts and help you make the best decision.
