What You Need to Know About Workers’ Compensation

If you have been injured on the job, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Every state has workers’ compensation laws, but those laws vary greatly. Review the laws in your state or consult with a lawyer before filing a claim.

File a Claim

If you have been injured on the job, get medical treatment. Inform your employer as soon as you can after being injured. There may be time frames that could result in your being denied benefits. Your employer will have you complete paperwork that asks for details about your injury including where, when and how it happened. In most states, your employer will then submit the claim to the insurance carrier. The insurance carrier approves or denies the benefit.

Understand No Fault

Most states have no fault workers’ compensation. This means that it does not matter if you, your employer or a third party is responsible for your injury. You can get workers’ compensation even if you were injured because of your own careless mistake. The flip side is that there is no employer liability Oregon. You give up the right to sue your employer for its careless mistake.

Know Your Benefits

Often, the amount of the benefit will not cover the entire cost to you. Generally, your medical expenses will be paid. However, these costs need to be approved by the insurance carrier first. If you are not able to work, you will not recover all of your lost wages. Workers’ compensation typically pays around 66% of your regular salary. Again, this varies by state. Some states cap the amount of the weekly benefit.  The length of time you can receive benefits also varies widely by state, from as little as two years to the length of your disability.

The more you understand about the laws in your state, the better prepared you will be if you get injured on the job.