If you suffered an injury while on-the-job, you had to seek medical care. When you do this, you will want to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation will cover your medical expenses through its medical benefits aspect, and it will cover about two-thirds of your lost wages through the short-term disability payments. Your physician may order you to be off work for a while. If so, you should keep a copy of this letter before it is handed over to your employer. In some cases, as you heal, you may be told you can perform light duty work. In that case your employer can either tell you that there is no light duty work for you to do and you will continue to receive workers’ compensation short-term disability benefits until you can perform your regular work duties, or they will put you on light duty work. What Is Light Duty Work? If your physician orders light duty work, it might involve performing less strenuous activity or working shorter hours, or a combination of the two. Your employer has options when you are given orders for light-duty work. They can give you light duty work that may not have anything to do with your job responsibilities or they can give you basically the same responsibilities but on a less strenuous level physically. If they don’t have any light duty work available, you will remain off work and continue getting the same benefits. If you do get assigned light duty work, you will continue to have medical benefits to ensure you get the follow-up care that you need so you can make a full recovery. If you are working limited hours, you may get two-thirds your regular salary for the hours you aren’t working, but of course, that depends on the workers’ compensation laws in the state where you reside. If you must stop working again completely, the regular benefits will resume for your standard work week. Consult With A Workers’ Compensation Attorney If you suffered an injury on the job, you should consult with a workers’ compensation attorney. Your lawyer will ensure you are treated fairly and help you get access to the benefits you are entitled to receive during such a challenging time. Workers’ compensation benefits can make a significant difference in your family’s overall financial situation, so you don’t want to miss out on having your medical expenses covered and two-thirds of your lost wages paid. Workers’ compensation lawyers work on a contingency basis, so you have nothing to lose. Your attorney will not be compensated until you get a settlement that covers the benefits that you are entitled to receive. Your workers’ compensation attorney will also consider future medical expenses and the future loss of earnings that you might encounter because of your specific injuries. There is a strict statute of limitations for pursuing a claim, so get your free case review today! Additional Resources Is There a Big Risk of Being Fired While on Light Duty? How Should I Tell My Employer About My Light Duty Work Restrictions?
