Auto mechanics earn their pay through hard work, but are subject to a variety of potential injuries that are specific to the type of job they do. Long term chronic injuries and illnesses often beset the auto mechanic who continues to do the same line of work for a long time. Fortunately, many auto mechanics can claim workers’ compensation if injured or sick because of their job. A workers’ comp. claim can help to pay for medical treatment and lost wages. Calculating Wage Compensation as Part of an Auto Mechanic Workers' Comp Claim Auto mechanics may work part or full time and their hourly wage depends partly on their employer and the place they work. Some employers pay more than others. The U.S. median hourly wage for an auto mechanic was $21.02 in May 2016 while annual median wages were $43,710. Both hourly and annual wages are important as they serve as a basis for calculating compensation in a workers’ compensation claim. A successful claim rarely pays the full wage when a worker is injured and is unable to return to work. It is usually pegged at a percentage of the full rate, 66% being a common figure. Figures quoted above are from the data bank held by the federal Bureau of Labor. Auto Mechanic Disability Compensation Auto mechanics suffer from a variety of common injuries and illnesses because of their work environment. Any one of the following may lead to a workers’ compensation claim. Eye injuries from pieces of metal or plastic that can fly off during repair work. Safety glasses can help to protect eyes. Hand injuries e.g. broken finger bones and burns are possible when handling hot or sharp metal parts; Burns and chemical burns are caused when auto mechanics are affected by very hot materials, especially hot oil or engine parts; Chronic injuries from long term standing or kneeling on hard surfaces can cause stress on knee joints and backs. Provision for either temporary or permanent disability is usually part of a workers’ compensation settlement. Temporary disability may be either partial or total. Temporary total disability means that the worker is unable to do any work at all for a short period of time e.g. days or weeks. This would be the case with broken fingers for instance. Temporary partial disability means that the worker can return to work but may not be able to do exactly the same type of job because of the injury. Permanent disability may also be either partial or total. Permanent partial disability means that the auto mechanic is permanently impaired and unable to do exactly the same type of work but still able to do some of it. Permanent total disability means that the worker is so badly injured that they are unable to return to being an auto mechanic at all, but may be helped to retrain as part of the compensation settlement. Evidence of Your Injury is Useful When Making a Claim Successful workers compensation claims depend on providing evidence that the injury took place at work and that the claim for medical costs and lost wages is both justified and quantified. For an auto mechanic accident, witness statements from other workers are useful, as is a statement from a supervisor or manager who witnessed what happened. Photos, if they can be taken of the accident scene, or where the accident took place, will help the claim. Medical records and statements from physicians or other medical personnel about the nature and cause of the injury(ies) as well as receipts to show how much has been spent on medical treatment should be retained and shown as evidence with the claim. Contact an Attorney if Needed Most auto mechanics should be covered by workers’ compensation, but this doesn’t always mean that they will find a workers’ compensation claim straightforward. If a claim is denied for any reason, or a payment seems unsatisfactory, or you find that your employer is uninsured, you should contact a workers’ comp. attorney. The attorney will discuss your rights under the law on workers’ comp for the state you are working in, as well as suggest the best options for legal action.
