What Is Workers' Comp and Is It Right for You?

If you plan were injured while performing duties associated with your job, then you might be interested in filing for workers' compensation. To give you a better idea of how to do this and whether it's the right option for you, here is an introduction to the subject:

What is workers' compensation?

In the most general sense, workers' comp is a form of insurance that will cover your medical bills and lost wages while you are unable to work. This insurance is paid for by your company and is mandated by the government, so you don't usually need to worry about whether you are covered or not.

Do you qualify for workers' compensation?

Depending on the nature and severity of your injury, you may or may not qualify. To find out, you could visit a workers' comp lawyer firm such as Lovett Schefrin Harnett, or you could file for workers' comp on your own. This might sound difficult, but filing for workers' comp is actually a relatively easy process and only involves filling out a few forms that should be supplied by your employer.

If your injury led to physical disfigurement or a permanent decrease in your quality of life, then your injury will probably qualify. Other injuries might be less obvious, but can still be proven if you have the medical records to back you up.

The more important issue could be whether or not the injury was your fault and whether it actually happened while performing your duties. For instance, a construction worker that is driving from home to work and gets in an accident might lose their claim. However, a construction worker that is traveling from one job site to another that gets into an accident might have a better shot at filing a successful claim.

How does the claim process work?

Firstly, you need to get medical attention for your injury and report it to your employer. Upon you saying that you wish to file a workers' comp claim, they should give you some forms to fill out, which will then be sent to the provider.

The provider will then tell you whether or not you qualify and whether you need to supply additional information. This may involve an examination by a doctor in order to determine the extent of your injuries. Altogether, this will be used to determine how much compensation you will receive.

Will the compensation be enough?

In most cases, the compensation provided by workers' comp will cover your medical bills, disability pay (that is often proportional to your salary before the injury), and even rehabilitation and retraining costs.