Learn all about work injuries, workers compensation, how they work, and your rights and eligibility requirements as an employee.
Experiencing a workplace injury can be not only a painful experience, but a stressful one too. Understanding what a work injury is and how worker’s compensation works can help alleviate some stress when dealing with this scenario.
To help employees understand the eligibility requirements and their rights, we’ll cover the definition of work injuries, their causes, and the legal obligations of employers to provide a safe working environment. We’ll also explore the process of filing a workers' compensation claim, the benefits available to injured workers, and the potential challenges they may face.
If you are currently involved in a workplace injury settlement case and require immediate financial assistance, we invite you to explore Scryp's pre-settlement funding services. These services can provide access to money from your upcoming settlement before it is finalized, helping you meet your financial needs without having to wait.
Visit Scryp's website to learn more about their pre-settlement funding options and how they can help you during this challenging time.
A workplace injury is a type of physical or mental injury or harm that an employee experienced while performing their job. A work injury could consist of either a one-time event or repeated exposure to something harmful in the workplace.
A work injury is different from a personal injury in that work injuries are no-fault cases.
For example, a one-time event might include a fall, getting burned by a chemical splash, or getting hurt in a car accident while doing deliveries. An example of repeated exposure might include back pain from doing the same motion over and over again or losing your hearing from being constantly exposed to loud noises.
Worker’s compensation is a type of insurance that provides financial benefits and support to employees who suffered a work-related injury or illness. Worker’s compensation can also be referred to as workers' comp or workman's comp.
Worker's compensation is a type of social insurance program that helps protect workers and makes sure workers receive the proper medical or financial compensation for work-related injuries. So if you experience a work injury, you may be eligible for worker's compensation.
After a workplace injury occurs, several things need to happen. First, the employee that was injured needs to report the injury and get any necessary medical treatment as soon as possible. Then a claim needs to be filed and processed.
The injured employee needs to report the injury or illness to their employer as soon as possible. In the case of an illness or gradual injury, the employee should report the problem to their employer as soon as they are aware of the issue. In some cases, the employee could lose their eligibility to certain benefits if they don't report the injury within 30 days.
If the workplace injury is an emergency, seek emergency treatment or call 911 immediately. If it’s not an emergency, seek whatever medical treatment you might need as soon as you can.
When you go to get medical treatment, let the medical staff know that you are being treated for a work-related injury or illness.
After you get medical treatment and report the injury to your boss, the insurance carrier will file a claim for work injury benefits. This will happen after the insurance has received reports of the work-related injury from the employer, doctor, or Industrial Accidents Division.
Within a certain timeframe (for example, 45 days) the insurance carrier will come to a conclusion as to whether the claim is eligible or not. If the claim is eligible, the employer will be contacted to work out benefits the injured party may receive.
The workplace injury benefits that an employee can expect depend on several factors like the specific injury, the state you're in, and more. Each case may differ from another in the specific benefits the injured party receives.
Workplace Injury Benefits Could Include:
The eligibility requirements for worker's compensation may depend on several factors like which state you're in. For example, in Utah, workers are eligible for worker's comp as soon as they begin employment. There is no timeframe they need to meet first before they are eligible for these benefits in case of an injury.
Likewise, workers in Utah don't have to be full-time to be eligible. They can also be eligible for worker's comp even if they only work part-time.
But, a Utah worker may no longer be eligible for disability compensation if their work-related injury was self-inflicted.
If you have questions about work injuries and your rights, contact your supervisor or HR representative, or visit your state's labor office website for more answers.
Workers that get hurt at work have certain rights that protect them and make sure they receive the support they need. Your rights as an employee suffering from a work-related injury might vary depending on your type of work and your state.
It's important to know your own rights when it comes to work injuries so that you can get the treatment and support you deserve in a difficult situation. Some of the rights you might be entitled to as someone suffering from a work injury include the following things.
Work Injury Rights:
*None of the statements included herein are intended to be regarded as legal advice. If you have any legal questions or a potential or existing case, please consult with an attorney for guidance.
