Many people choose their place of employment based on the benefits they are offered. It’s the second most important factor, next to the salary. Before you apply for any job, make sure to get informed about your rights as a worker.
This will mainly come in handy in case of an accident. There are numerous unpredictable situations that you can get, which can seriously impact your ability to earn a living. That’s where your employee benefits come into play.
What Is Workers’ Compensation Coverage?
Business owners in most states are required by law to offer their employees workers’ compensation coverage. The employer’s insurance company covers it. If you get injured on the job, you have full right to file a complaint and get compensated for your injuries. It’s a no-fault system.
This means that you won’t be able to sue the employer when the accident happens, but you will have a right to get paid fairly. In most cases, workers’ compensation will cover your medical costs and also part of the wages you missed due to your injuries.
When Can You Apply?
As we previously mentioned, the most important thing is that you know what rights you have in case of an accident. The cost of your injuries can be prohibitive, and you’ll have to deal with that in addition to your recovery. One of the most common situations is that a worker gets injured in a construction zone; however, many people aren’t aware that they can apply for compensation.
They lose a lot of money on medical costs. They can sometimes even lose their job. The seriousness of your injury doesn’t matter. You always have the right to apply to get compensated.
File a Claim
The first thing you should do after you get injured or sick is to report it immediately to your employer. Fill out a claim form, or you’ll lose your right to get compensated. If you don’t do it on time, the employer and their insurance company are under no legal obligation to provide you with what you deserve.
The second thing you should do is see a doctor. They’ll write up a report of the state you’re in, which is a document that’s of crucial importance in this case. You have the right to choose if you want to see the company doctor, or you want to go to your private one.
Getting Treatment
We talked about how you have full right to choose the doctor you want to see and about the importance of keeping all of your medical records.
In some companies, you may be required to get the company doctor’s treatment, but only for a certain amount of time. You have the right to have all your medical bills covered significantly if you got injured on company grounds. Some employers can try to trick you into agreeing to a settlement but hold your ground however appealing the offer may seem.
Disability Payments
If your injuries prevent you from working or even make you permanently disabled, you have the right to get part of your wages paid. There are different types of worker’s compensation benefits, including permanent partial disability and temporary total disability. It depends on the type of injuries and the state your health is in afterward.
Sometimes, injuries are so severe that they require surgery. These things can prevent you from doing your job with the same quality you did beforehand. You need to consider your options because it may seriously affect your further employment.
Overlooked Injuries
Some long-term impairments may go unnoticed for years. This always results in them worsening over time. In the end, you have lost the ability to do your best in your job and your daily life.
For example, many construction workers put themselves at risk of losing their hearing after years spent around noisy tools like drills. Those things often go overlooked. Because of that, we would like to point out again that you have the right to get compensated no matter how big or small your injuries are.
When Should You Go Back to Work?
The answer to this question varies from company to company. However, in most cases, you have the right to ask for additional time to recover. This is done by talking to your doctor and determining if you are fit to start working or not.
Don’t let your employer bully you in accepting less than you deserve. You need to become aware of all the rights you have. In case of an injury, consult the professionals and let them lead you through the whole process. Stay away from stressful situations as much as you can, but don’t be afraid to hold your ground.
