In general, workplaces in Lexington are typically considered safe places to work, but there are times when accidents do happen and injuries occur that require both medical treatment and time off work to recover. If this has happened to you in your Lexington workplace you should be able to get workers’ compensation for loss of income and the cost of medical treatment. Some types of jobs are exempt from the employers providing workers’ compensation insurance. If you are in one of these jobs you may file a personal injury claim instead. Whatever your situation is you should discuss the accident and your injury first with a workers’ compensation lawyer. Choosing a Workers’ Comp. Lawyer in Lexington There are about 90 lawyers in Lexington who are able to help you with a workers’ compensation claim. If you are considering making a claim, you should select a licensed Lexington lawyer to help you. If you are in a position where you are unable to make a workers’ compensation claim, or have to appeal a claim because it has been denied by your employer’s insurer, you will find you will need the legal advice from an experienced lawyer. Work Places Most at Risk in Lexington There are lots of different jobs in many workplaces in Lexington. In every job there is always some risk of an accident and injury taking place. The Bureau of Labor Statistics* keeps up-to-date records of workplace injuries and which occupations have the most accidents. In Lexington, these are firstly in the transportation and transit industries and secondly in nursing homes. Transportation injuries can take place out on the road and could be due to driver error, driver fatigue or defective vehicles whether it’s a bus, taxi or an 18 wheeler. Also when vehicles are being loaded with goods, accidents can take place with loading equipment or even when workers have to load boxes when loading equipment fails to work. Many injuries in this sort of job are likely to be back injuries. How the Workers’ Compensation Procedure Works in Kentucky The majority of Kentucky’s workers are protected by the state’s workers’ compensation laws as it’s compulsory for employers to take out insurance to cover workers who fall sick due to an occurrence in the workplace or have an accident causing a serious injury. In the case of an accident it must be reported first to your employer or supervisor as quickly as possible. A detailed report should follow. A workers’ compensation claim should be filed as soon as you have been handed a report from a medical examination carried out by an approved doctor or hospital. All claims need to be filed with the state’s Department of Workers’ Claims within 2 years following the injury. The insurer is required to respond to the claim within 60 days and then commence payments as soon as the claim is approved. The biggest problem with workers’ compensation is that there are a few occupations that aren’t covered. If you are an injured workers in this situation and you are sure your injury is caused by negligence on the part of your employer in the workplace you may have the option of filing a personal claim which offers you compensation at the very least for loss of earnings and medical treatment. A personal injury claim should be filed with the Fayette County District Court in Lexington. It is open 24 hours. Use our Free Claim Evaluation to Find a Suitable Lexington Based Lawyer Bearing in mind the pressure on you to submit reports and claim forms within quite limited time periods, it is advisable to have help from an experienced workers’ compensation or personal injury lawyer. But there are many to choose from in the city of Lexington. One certain way to make sure you select a suitable lawyer is to complete our free claim evaluation form, which can be found here. Additional Resources Workers' Compensation Attorneys in Kentucky Workers' Compensation in Kentucky *Source: bls.gov/iif/oshstate.htm#KY
