A permanent total disability occurs when it has been determined that an employee is permanently and totally disabled following a workplace injury or illness. Examples include the loss of both arms, both legs, both eyes, both hands or an arm and a leg. Sometimes long-term exposure to certain chemicals or toxins can cause permanent total disability. In general a permanent disability award would be equivalent to two-thirds of the employee’s annual salary. Who Makes the Determination? A workers’ comp panel reviews the doctor reports to determine the disability rating for each individual. An attorney can help make sure the board receives all the necessary information it needs to make a determination. Your workers' compensation attorney can support you and help you seek an outside independent evaluation if you disagree with the findings of the company physicians. How Can a Lawyer Assist You? Permanent disability ratings are determined after your medical condition has stabilized and further treatment is unlikely to result in an improvement. An attorney can help ensure you get a fair evaluation and if you are totally permanently disabled that you receive the maximum benefits that you are entitled to receive in compensation. Your disability determination is very important to determining your monetary compensation award and the process can be complicated and confusing. An attorney can explain your rights to you and let you know the status of how your case is proceeding. Having an attorney by you side to represent your best interests can bring you peace of mind and help make the process go as smoothly as possible. To speak with a workers' compensation attorney, you can simply fill out our Free Case Evaluation.
