4 Types of Benefits Under Workers’ Compensation

If you qualify for workers’ compensation because of a workplace injury, there are certain benefits you are entitled to, as a workers compensation attorney, like from Rispoli & Borneo, can explain. Every state governs these benefits differently, but there are some that are fairly basic and common across the board.

  1. Medical Care

Some of the biggest expenses after a workplace injury are the immediate medical costs. Fortunately, workers’ compensation covers these. This could include an emergency trip to the ER in an ambulance, medication, surgery and therapy. It could also include medical equipment, such as wheelchairs or crutches. Depending on the state you’re in, as well as the coverage, you might also be entitled to pain therapy, counseling, acupuncture and other similar treatments.

Take note that you might have to get authorizations to see certain medical providers. Emergency doctors typically don’t fall in this category, but when it comes to therapies and follow up care, you might be required to see providers specified by the insurance company or you could lose the right to compensation.

  1. Rehabilitation

Of course you’ll probably have rehabilitation costs that are related to your physical and mental injuries, but you could require vocational rehabilitation as well. If your injuries resulted in the inability to complete your former job, you might have to retrain, be evaluated or even go back to school so you can gain employment again. Workers’ comp could cover those costs.

  1. Disability

There are four different types of disability covered by workers’ compensation, and your situation will be uniquely looked at to determine what you’re entitled to. The four types include:

  • Temporary Total Disability
  • Temporary Partial Disability
  • Permanent Total Disability
  • Permanent Partial Disability
  1. Death

If an employee dies as the direct result of a workplace injury, the victim’s family might be entitled to death benefits. In some cases, the surviving family members receive any compensation the victim would have received if he or she had lived. In other cases, the family members receive compensation for funeral and burial expenses. There’s also a chance the family would receive both benefits.

Contacting a Lawyer

It’s never easy to deal with an injury, especially if it involved the workplace and workers’ compensation benefits. If you were injured at work, you should be able to use the benefits you’re entitled to. Whether you’re having a hard time doing that, or don’t know where to start to begin with, there is help. Contact a workers’ compensation lawyer for direction in getting your case started.