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While no one wants to get injured or sick at work, workers’ compensation benefits can help you financially after sustaining a workplace accident or occupational disease. However, the only way to make the most of your workers’ compensation claim is by having thorough knowledge of what compensation you have a right to declare. A seasoned workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand your options as you pursue a request for benefits.
Depending on the severity of your injury or illness, and how long it is expected to prevent you from working, you may have access to numerous different workers’ compensation benefits in Bala Cynwyd. Here is a brief overview of what benefits you may need to incorporate into your claim.
Defining Reasonable Medical Bills
All medical treatment needed to get the Bala Cynwyd injured worker to reach their maximum, medical improvement, is the primary benefit of workers compensation. In other words, this money would cover what it takes for them to reach their physical condition before their accident. In the event of permanent disability or disfigurement, compensation would seek to get them as close to their pre-accident condition as possible.
It is worth emphasizing that workers’ compensation provides reimbursement for past medical expenses rather than just giving injured people money upfront. An insurance company’s view of what counts as reasonable treatment that qualifies for coverage may be different from the view of an injured or sick worker.
What Different Benefits Are Available?
Depending on the severity of an accident in Bala Cynwyd, an injured person or their family can seek the following workers’ compensation benefits:
Temporary Disability Benefits
Anyone who is unable to work because of a work-related injury or illness for seven or more calendar days in a row is eligible for temporary total disability (TTD) benefits, which are generally equal to two-thirds of the person’s average preinjury weekly wage. When the injured workers’ disability lasts for more than 14 consecutive days, they can receive retroactive payment for their first seven days of temporary disability.
Long-Term Disability Benefits
When someone is unable to work because of a work-related injury or illness for more than 104 consecutive weeks, their employer or their workers’ compensation insurance provider can request a professional medical examination to determine if the worker has reached maximum medical improvement and will be disabled long term. Depending on the results of this examination, the worker may be eligible for permanent partial disability (PTD) benefits for up to 500 weeks or permanent total disability (benefits) for the rest of their life.
Death Benefits
If a work-related injury or illness directly results in a worker’s premature death, surviving dependent family members may be eligible to receive up to $3,000 for funeral and burial expenses as well as death benefits calculated based on the worker’s pre-injury weekly wage and on the recipient’s relationship with the worker. For example, a surviving spouse with no dependents can receive 51 percent of the deceased worker’s average weekly wage while one dependent child increases that rate to 60 percent and two or more dependent children increases it to 66 2/3 percent.
Let a Bala Cynwyd Attorney Help You Maximize Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers’ compensation benefits alone cannot completely make up for the physical, financial, and psychological impacts that a traumatic workplace accident can have on you and your loved ones. However, getting the restitution you deserve through the insurance your employer provides you can be key to maximizing your quality of life.
Working closely with a capable legal professional at Lowenthal & Abrams can go a long way toward ensuring you get the workers’ compensation benefits in Bala Cynwyd you deserve. Call our firm today to find out more.
