If you have an accident at your workplace, is it automatically covered by Workers’ Compensation Insurance? The good news is, yes. If you are injured while on-the-job, you are entitled to 100% coverage of your medical bills. In addition, you will also be eligible for permanent, partial total liability.
One important thing to know is that you must report your injury within five days of the accident. Employers who have more than five workers must provide workers’ compensation to you. You cannot be fired for filing or pursuing a workers’ comp claim. You do have rights in the workplace.
Another thing is that the accident does not have to be the fault of the employer in order for you to file a claim. The accident must happen in the line and scope of your duties and during the course of your employment.
An accident can be something as simple as bending over to pick up something and injuring your back. Or stepping off of a curb in the company’s parking lot; these are things not necessarily the fault of the employer, but in both cases, you would have a legitimate workers’ comp claim.
For example, if you suffer a back injury that requires surgery, this generates 5%-15% impairment rating, which translates into money. The same thing applies to finger, eye, hand and other injuries.
You do not have to prove that an accident was the fault of your employer, or a co-worker. You just have to have been injured on the job.
Filing for workers’ comp benefits is fairly easy at the beginning of the process; it is mostly paperwork. However, it will get complicated as you continue through filing your claim. You will want to hire an attorney who specializes in workers’ compensation cases.
If you have legal questions, please call Reynolds Horne and Survant. 478-405-0300